Mumbai, Nov 17 (PTI) Harshit Mahimkar showcased an impressive performance to secure his place in the finals of both the boys’ U-17 and men’s singles categories at the Maharashtra State Open Badminton Tournament held on Sunday at the Willingdon Sports Club.
In the men’s singles semifinals, the unseeded Mahimkar triumphed over the second seed Shvetank Karnik with a decisive score of 21-13, 21-10, taking just 34 minutes to complete the match.
In the boys’ U-17 semifinals, Mahimkar met Sumit Made and displayed remarkable skill to edge out his opponent, winning 21-16, 21-15, which set the stage for an exciting double finals appearance.
In another thrilling men’s singles semifinal, Soham Phatak delivered a stunning performance as he overwhelmed the top-seeded Tanay Mehendale with a commanding score of 21-11, 21-8.
Meanwhile, in the boys’ U-17 category, Mehendale demonstrated resilience and determination, battling back to claim victory against Yash Gurav in a hard-fought matchup that ended 9-21, 21-17, 21-15.
In the women’s singles semifinal, Prisha Shah efficiently dispatched Anushka Bhise with a solid performance, winning the match 21-16, 21-15, while Devanshi Shinde overcame challenges from Shravni Patil, triumphing with scores of 13-21, 21-17, 21-15 to reach the final.
Fourth-seeded Khushi Pahwa pulled off an upset in the girls’ U-17 semifinal, defeating top seed Shravni Patil 18-21, 21-14, 28-26, while Prisha continued her strong showing, defeating Rutu Kitlekar with a scoreline of 21-12, 21-12.
In the men’s doubles semifinals, the top-seeded duo of Arjun Suresh and Siddhesh Raut made a commendable comeback after dropping the first game, ultimately winning with scores of 18-21, 21-10, 21-16 against Deepak Jaitly and Mishil Shah.
The second-seeded pairing of Nidhish More and Soham Phatak excelled in their semifinal, outplaying their opponents Mayur Walgunje and Mohit Aswani with a score of 21-16, 22-20.
Results (all semi-finals) – Boys’ U-17 singles: 1-Tanay Mehendale defeated Yash Gurav 9-21, 21-17, 21-15; 2-Harshit Mahimkar defeated Sumit Made 21-16, 21-15.
Boys’ U-17 doubles: 1-Nidhish More/Tanay Mehendale advanced against Aayan Kapadia/Ethan D’Souza with a score of 21-17, 21-9; Ishan Salvi/Sumit Made triumphed over 2-Ishan Wankhede/Tanay Joshi in a closely contested match, winning 21-12, 23-21.
Men’s singles: 4-Soham Phatak bested 1-Tanay Mehendale 21-11, 21-8; Harshit Mahimkar triumphed over 2-Shvetank Karnik 21-13, 21-10.
Men’s doubles: 1-Arjun Suresh/Siddhesh Raut defeated 4-Deepak Jaitly/Mishil Shah 18-21, 21-10, 21-16; 2-Nidhish More/Soham Phatak bested Mayur Walgunje/Mohit Aswani 21-16, 22-20.
Women’s singles: Prisha Shah secured victory over Anushka Bhise 21-16, 21-15; Devanshi Shinde emerged triumphant against Shravni Patil with scores of 13-21, 21-17, 21-15.
Women’s doubles: 1-Samia Shah/Shivani Herlekar advanced with a 21-12, 12-21, 21-10 win against Kareena Madan/Michelle A; 2-Alka Karayil/Vedika Kulkarni edged past Noopur Sahasrabuddhe/Sonal More with a challenging scoreline of 17-21, 21-18, 21-19.
How does Harshit Mahimkar’s experience in the semifinals influence his approach to competing in the finals?
**Interview with Harshit Mahimkar: Double Finalist at the Maharashtra State Open Badminton Tournament**
**Editor:** Congratulations, Harshit, on your outstanding performance at the Maharashtra State Open Badminton Tournament! Securing a spot in both the boys’ U-17 and men’s singles finals is quite an achievement. How are you feeling after those semifinal victories?
**Harshit Mahimkar:** Thank you so much! I’m feeling really excited and grateful. It was a tough competition, but I’m happy that my hard work paid off. Winning both matches feels amazing, especially against such strong opponents.
**Editor:** In the men’s singles semifinals, you faced the second seed, Shvetank Karnik. You won decisively in just 34 minutes. What was your strategy going into that match?
**Harshit Mahimkar:** My strategy was to focus on my strengths and not get intimidated by his ranking. I aimed to play aggressively and control the pace of the game. I think it helped that I remained calm and composed, and I was able to execute my shots effectively.
**Editor:** Moving on to the boys’ U-17 semifinals, you played against Sumit Made. Can you tell us about that match and what it took to win?
**Harshit Mahimkar:** That match was definitely more challenging. Sumit is a skilled player, and he pushed me hard. I had to stay focused and adapt my game. I tried to keep the rallies short and look for opportunities to play my attacking shots. I’m glad I managed to hold on for the win.
**Editor:** You’ll be competing in two finals now. What’s your mindset going into those matches?
**Harshit Mahimkar:** My mindset is to treat each final as a fresh start. I plan to approach both matches with confidence and the desire to play my best. It’s a great opportunity for me, and I’m excited to take on the challenge.
**Editor:** It seems like there was some exciting action going on in both the men’s and girls’ categories. How does it feel to be part of such a competitive atmosphere?
**Harshit Mahimkar:** It’s incredibly motivating! Competing alongside talented players pushes me to improve. The atmosphere is electric, and I love being part of something so dynamic. I believe we all learn from each other, and it makes for exciting matches!
**Editor:** Lastly, Harshit, what advice would you give to young aspiring badminton players who look up to you?
**Harshit Mahimkar:** My advice would be to stay dedicated and never give up. Consistency in practice is key, but also remember to enjoy the game. Also, take constructive criticism positively, and always be willing to learn and improve.
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Harshit. Best of luck in the finals, and we look forward to seeing your performance!
**Harshit Mahimkar:** Thank you! I appreciate your support!