India cruise past Nepal to win South Asian Regional Badminton title

India lived upto the billing of being a favourite and walloped Nepal 3-0 to win the first ever South Asian Regional Badminton Tournament (team championship) at the Tarun Ram Phookan Indoor Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday.

India who came into the finals without losing a single match continued their good run with Aryaman Tandon drawing the first blood in the boys'singles competition.

Taking on the winner (mixed doubles) of Pakistan International Badminton Series Dipesh Dhami, Aryaman ranked third in India (under-19) was in his elements from the word go and picked up an easy 21-9, 21-15 victory to give the hosts an early initiative.

Local star Ashmita Chaliha danced her way to a 21-9, 21-6 win over Rashila Maharjan in the girls' singles event. Ashmita who has been picked up by the North Eastern Warriors for the upcoming edition of the Premier Badminton League barely broke a sweat and registered a comprehensive victory to double India's lead.

In the boys' doubles event, the pair of Arintap Dasgupta and Krishna Prasad G had to stave off a challenge from Nepalese duo of Dipesh Dhami and Nabin Shrestha. Nepal started off well winning the first game 21-19. However, the Indians came back strongly and won the next two games 21-14, 21-11 to seal the deal for the home team. 

Sanjay Mishra, Indian junior badminton coach was ecstatic with the win and said, "It was a great performance by the squad and we are happy with the way they played. It was as easy as the results show. Nepal are a good team and I am really happy that the team executed the plans as had discussed."

With the team championship over, the individual competition will commence fromWednesday.