DC Himanshu Aggarwal Honors Winners, Urges Youth to Prioritize Sports
Jalandhar: The Punjab State Senior Badminton Championship concluded on a high note at the Raizada Hansraj Badminton Stadium in Jalandhar, with local players dominating the event. Jalandhar’s Manya Ralhan and Mridul Jha emerged as standout performers, each claiming double crowns in their respective categories. Ralhan triumphed in both the Women’s Singles and Doubles, while Jha secured victories in the Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles. Additionally, Adhyan Kakkar from Amritsar earned titles in both the Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles, making it a memorable competition for the region.
DBA Secretary Ritin Khanna shared that approximately 200 players participated in five events, including Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles. This year’s championship marked a milestone for the Punjab Badminton Association as it introduced cash prizes totaling Rs. 2 lakhs for the first time in its history. The winners were presented with their awards by the Chief Guest, Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Jalandhar. In addition, Inayat Gulati from Jalandhar and Jagshar Khangura from Patiala were recognized with cash prizes of Rs. 11,000 each for their exceptional achievements.
The victorious players will represent Punjab at the upcoming National Championship in Bengaluru later this month.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Aggarwal encouraged the youth to make sports an integral part of their lives, highlighting the physical, mental, and personal development benefits it offers. He emphasized that success in sports fosters key life skills such as perseverance, teamwork, and focus, all of which are essential for success in any field.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including PBA Secretary Anupam Kumaria, Rakesh Khanna, Naresh Budhia, Anil Bhatti, A.K. Kaushal, Dheeraj Sharma, Mayank Behl, and Parminder Sharma.
The final results were as follows: in the Women’s Singles final, Manya Ralhan triumphed over Samridhi Bhardwaj with a 21-18, 21-13 scoreline. In the Men’s Singles final, Mridul Jha narrowly defeated Shikhar Rallan, 27-25, 21-19. The Men’s Doubles final saw Adhyan Kakkar and Mridul Jha dominate Love Kumar and Mayank Behal with a 21-18, 21-12 victory. In the Women’s Doubles final, Manya Ralhan and Samridhi Bhardwaj defeated Liza Taank and Saanvi Nautiyal 22-20, 21-11. The Mixed Doubles final saw Adhyan Kakkar and Liza Taank besting Manmohit Sandhu and Manya Ralhan with a 21-16, 21-16 win.
