Nikhil Kanetkar and Upendra Fadnis.
PANAJI
Former India internationals Nikhil Kanetkar, Upendra Fadnis, Jaison Xavier and Amrish Shinde headlined Day 2 of the 47th Indian Masters National Badminton Championship 2025 at Peddem, delivering commanding performances to storm into the main draw.
Kanetkar, partnering with Upendra Fadnis (Maharashtra/Karnataka), dominated Govind M.K. and Dhinakar Shanka with a 15-11, 15-2 win in the Men’s Doubles 45+ category. Xavier, alongside Amrish Shinde (Gujarat/Kerala), was equally ruthless, dismantling Rajan Chandvaskar and Sandeep D. (Maharashtra) 15-4, 15-5 in the Men’s Doubles 50+ qualification round. The tournament also saw strong performances from Goa’s top shuttlers, keeping local fans engaged with thrilling matches.
Goan players made a strong impact in both the qualification rounds and the main draw. Wilfred Jacques (Goa) cruised past Niranjan Mantri (Maharashtra) 15-4, 15-7 in Men’s Singles 50+, while N. Cardoz and D. Nilesh (Goa) powered through Rajeev Malik and Nandkishore (Uttar Pradesh) 15-6, 15-4 in the Men’s Doubles 45+. In the main draw, Betty Dourado (Goa) opened her Women’s Singles 40+ campaign with a 21-11, 21-10 win over Devi Manda (Andhra Pradesh), while Supriya Pai Kuchelkar (Goa) fought back in a nail-biting clash to defeat Rajul Bhandari (Rajasthan) 19-21, 23-21, 21-19 in the Women’s Singles 45+. Arnaldo Rodrigues (Goa) secured a 21-11, 21-13 victory over Murali Krishnan Bakthavachal (Tamil Nadu) in the Men’s Singles 45+, and Parag Chauhan (Goa) edged out Rahul Barua (West Bengal) 21-14, 21-19.
The Goa duo of Navaneet Nasnodkar and Jatinder Singh showcased their skills in the Men’s Doubles 35+, defeating Rudra Kumar Dasari and Sudhakar (Andhra Pradesh) 21-19, 21-12. Meanwhile, Kamlesh Kanji and Suja Das Nair (Goa/Maharashtra) clinched a hard-fought 21-18, 21-17 victory over Veera Swamy Narra and Shikha (Telangana/Karnataka) in Mixed Doubles 45+. With the competition intensifying, fans eagerly await the next rounds, where more top Indian shuttlers will take center stage.
