Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 30 2009:
Manipur University shuttlers suffered defeats in both the men's and women's team event finals in the East Zone Inter university Badminton (M&W) Tournament, which concluded at Dr Kamal indoor stadium, MU today.
In the men's final, MU lost to BRA, Bihar three sets to one while the MU women's team comprising of Ksh Khelpati and Achungmei Kamei went down to their respective Calcutta University rivals.
After RK Taponkumar and L Sashikumar lost the first two singles against Sarfaraz Azam and Aman Ranjan 15-21, 21-7, 9-21 and 12-21, 6-21 respectively, the same MU duo provided a ray of hope to the host varsity defeating Sarfaraz-Tarun Prakash in the first doubles at 22-20, 21-16 .
However, L Santakumar went down to Tarun Prakash in the third singles 12-21, 15-21 that cleared BRA's route to claim the title.
In the third place play-off, Calcutta University swept aside the challenge of Dibrugarh University with a 3-0 set win.
Earlier, in the women's singles finals, Khelpati lost to Moharmala Mukherjee 21-16, 21-17 with Achungmei suffering 21-7, 21-16 defeat to Avilash Das.
DDU, Gorakhpur secured the third position with a 2-0 victory over VBS University, Purvanchal.
The closing ceremony was held with international boxer and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee MC Mary Kom and MU Vice Chancellor Prof C Amuba Singh as the chief guest and president respectively.
Registrar (MU) Prof N Lokendra, Pro VC (MU) Prof HNK sharma and Manipur Badminton Association general secretary M Mubi Singh (MPS) also graced the occasion as the guests of honour.