Vice President Naheed Divecha with Ayaz Bilawala and Shailesh Daga, members of our Gymkhana participated in the recently concluded World Senior Badminton Championship 2023 which were held in Jeonju in South Korea. Ayaz Bilawala and Shailesh Daga (the current 50+ Mens Doubles National Champions) represented India in the 50+ Mens Doubles event. Naheed Divecha (the current 50+ Mixed Doubles National Champions) represented India in the 50+ Womens Doubles event (where she partnered Wrishali Patil) and in the 50+ Women Singles event. The tournament was a wonderful experience for our members who were out there playing with the best badminton Players in the World. Naheed, a veteran World Cupper (this being her 3rd Championship), reached the Women’s singles second round where she lost in 3 close games to a seeded French opponent. In the Women’s Doubles event Naheed and her Partner lost in the first round to a pair from South Korea.
In the 50+ Men’s Doubles event Shailesh Daga and Ayaz Bilawala were playing in their first World Championship. They lost in the Pre Quarter Final (round of 16) to the 3rd seeded pair of Morten Aarup & Carstern Loesch from Denmark. They beat the top French pair in the first round and then the top pair from UAE in the second round quite comfortably. The first game of their pre quarter final match turned out to be a humdinger with the 3rd seeded pair. However after leading in the first game they lost the game and thereafter the match to the 3rd seeded pair from Denmark.
Our members came back with a rich experience from the World Championship where various Ex World Champions participated viz., Hariyanto Arbi, Meter Manake, Tony Gunwan, Tri Kusharjanto, Boonsak Ponsanato name a few. Our members were able to match up with the speed and the intensity with which the game is known for and were happy that they were able to show case their talent and play with the best in the business. Our members look forward to the upcoming Veterans Maharashtra State Badminton Tournament to be held at our Gymkhana Courts in January, 2024 and the National Veteran National Badminton Tournament, which is to be held in the month of March, 2024 and we wish them the very best for all the future matches and tournaments.
Article By : Vikrant Rambhia
