Mrunmayi Saoji, Ritika Thaker make quarters of the Natu Memorial All India Badminton

Mrunmayi Saoji, Ritika Thaker make quarters of the Natu Memorial All India Badminton

SportsCafe Desk

By SportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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Nagpur-based duo of Mrunmayi Saoji and Ritika Thaker progressed to the quarter-finals of the Natu Memorial All India Badminton tournament which is being held in Pune. While Saoji made the quarters in both the women’s singles & doubles event, Thaker only made it to the doubles quarter-finals.

It was one hell of a day for unseeded player - Mrunmayi Saoji, who was undoubtedly the standout performer in the tournament while making her way to the quarters. She pulled off a double as she beat No. 16 seed Ira Sharma 21-17, 20-22, 21-5 in the women’s singles and defeated sixth seeds, Varsha Belawadi and R Leela Lakshmi 21-15, 21-18, along with partner Manasi Gadgil to book a last eight berth.

The third-year engineering student will now go up against Thane’s Revati Devasthale for a spot in the semifinals of the women’s singles event. Meanwhile, Mrunmayi and Manasi will face third seeds Agna Anto and Prajakta Sawant in the quarters of the women’s doubles competition.

In addition to that, Saoji’s practice partner - Ritika Thaker along with Simran Singhi marched their way to the last eight as well as Barma Meena and Karma Meena 21-12, 21-6 in the women’s doubles event. The eighth-seeded pair will lock horns with Sanyogita Ghorpade and K Maneesha for a semi-final berth. However, top seed Anura Prabhudesai defeated Thaker in the second round of the women’s singles game by a margin of 21-12, 21-15.

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