City junior shuttlers on road to glory

Speaking at a meet-the-press function organised by the PDMBA at the WIE Sports Complex, Wardekar singled out the dedication, determination and devotion of the coaches, physical trainers and administrators involved.

The buoyant youngsters, which Kranti Sane (Jr Girls), Mansi Bhave (Sub Jr Girls), Aditi Mutatkar (Midget Girls), Mudra Dahinje (Mini Girls) — all singles winners, along with Ajit Phatak, the crack junior boys doubles combination of Varun Khanwalkar and Sameer Bhagwat (unbeaten in the state this season that includes the West Zone junior team event at Bhopal) and promising Yogin Nandkumar attributed their triumph’s to the concerted efforts of the scheme.

Giving a brief summary of PDMBA, Uday Sane, an administrator on the PDMBA Coaching Committee added that an expenditure of Rs 60,000 was incurred per month with the majority being roped in by coaching fees and sponsorships. The beneficiaries include 120 players 30 in the advanced stage, 16 in the semi-advanced stage and 36 in the intermediate stage, while the rest are beginners.

Such has been the immense talent in the city, that Ajit Phatak, the `unofficial’ No 2 (see box) in India — based on the computations of PDMBA, based on the lines of the Badminton Association of India (BAI) ranking system, is an unique example of a player performing in a higher age group. Owing to the fixed quota on number of entries per state as per BAI rules, the eleventh grader from Fergusson College does not find a berth for the sub-junior singles at the Nationals, instead has reserved the same in the junior category. In contrast Aditi Mutatkar, ranked No. 3 in the country in the U-13, is lucky enough to secure a berth in the junior section.

In totality, Pune’s achievement on the junior front is a step towards glory days which for a while was forgotten.