Davinder named to lead Delhi in Nationals

The women squad will comprise Kanika Kambo, Karishma Singh, Parul Majithia and Gyatri Medhiratta. Vikram Singh Bisht will be the coach.

Delhi will sorely miss the services of Manjusha Kanwar, who represented the team in the last nationals. She has since joined the Maharashtra ranks and will be representing it this year.

The Delhi teams held a practice session at the IG Stadium courts today, even as the coach and other officials were busy marking the courts without any help coming from the Stadium officials. According to one of the officials, the Stadium administration has failed to provide any groundsmen despite the organisers, Delhi Badminton Association’s request a few days ago.

The officiating administrator, Manmeet Singh Goindi, visited the courts and talking to SportsLine said he was seized of the matter. “I am taking immediate steps to do the needful. From tomorrow, we will have a couple of persons attending to the job,” he assured.

Vikram admitted the enormity of the nationals in the absence of Manjusha but was confident that the youngsters will put up a good show. Twins Madhur and Arjun Kalia, who have been doing well at the junior level, have been elevated this year and they now form part of the senior outfit. Vikram expected the two to do justice in the senior section.

But he was hoping for Gehlawat and Dhillon and veteran Ajay Kanwar to spring a surprise or two. As for the women’s team, Vikram hoped both Kanika Kambo and Karishma Singh would come good. “Gayatri is also capable of doing better on her day,” he said.

Like Delhi, the Railway teams are also aware of the problem they will be facing in this year’s nationals. Vincent Lobo, one of their fienest doubles players, recently left them to join Maharashtra. Lobo’s switch over has definitely strengthened Maharashtra and they are predicted to take the titles away from Railways this time.

The Railway teams, under coaches Balwinder Dhillon (men) and Madhumita Bisht (women), went through their paces, getting acclimatised to the Stadium courts. Their teams are training in two sessions — at the Karnail Singh Stadium in the morning and evening at the IG Stadium.

Lobo’s absence may dent their chances but they have players like Vinod Kumar, Roy Mathews, Amrish Sindhe, Mayur Ghatnekar, Srikant Bakshi and Mangirish Palekar to form the two doubles pairs. As for the singles, Sachin Ratti should provide some explosive stuff besides the junior national champion Thomas Kurian.

Similarly, they also have good women players in B.R. Meenakshi, the junior national winner, Parul Priyadarshini and others besides the trusted warhorse in Madhumita Bisht, who will also double up as a player. She will particularly be important in the doubles.