Top seeds Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers and second seeds M.J. Foundation lived up to their reputations to enter the Challenger Trophy final,in the 3rd Affinity Corporate Badminton Challenge 2013,jointly organized by the Maharashtra Badminton Association and Evolution Sport,at the NSCI on Tuesday. Defending champions RCF defeated Percept 2-0,while M.J. Foundation prevailed over BEST by the same margin in the semi-finals. Formidable pair of Ayaz Billawala and Shailesh Daga of M.J. Foundation set themselves up for four titles when they registered comfortable wins to enter the combined mens doubles 90+ and 80+ finals. Apart from the Challenger team championship round,the duo also advanced to the mixed doubles finals in their respective categories. Facing top seeds Billawala and Daga in the 80+ championship round are second seeds Sachin Bharti of BEST and Vilas Kuvale of Mumbai Port Trust who snatched a thrilling 21-16,16-21,22-20 win over Amol Shah and Dr. Gautam Laud of M.J. Foundation in the semi-finals. In the most absorbing contest of the day,Bharti and Kuvale frittered away a substantial lead to drop the second set and escaped to victory over extra points in a nail-biting decider,after saving three match points at 17-20.
