Odisha lass Rutaparna Panda lived up to her reputation as India’s No 1 shuttler in women’s doubles and mixed doubles by bagging a double crown in the All India Senior Doubles Ranking Badminton Tournament, held at BBD Badminton Academy in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh from March 15 to 18, 2018.

A trainee of Hyderabad-based Gopichand Academy, Rutaparna won both the women’s doubles and mixed doubles title to further consolidate her position in the Badminton Association of India rankings. She and her Maharashtra partner Arundhuti Pantawane emerged women’s doubles champion, defeating Simran Singhi and Ritika Thaker (both Maharashtra) 21-16, 21-10 in the final that lasted 39 minutes.

Cuttack damsel Rutaparna clinched the double crown by taking mixed doubles title with Kidambi Nandagopal of CAG. They beat Gaus Sheikh (AP) and Arundhuti Pantawane (Maharashtra) 21-16, 21-13 in 35 minutes.

Nandagopal, elder brother of star shuttler Kidambi Srikanth, also bagged a double crown by adding the men`s doubles title to the mixed doubles one. In the men`s double final, sixth seeded Nandgopal playing with Alvin Francis of Kerala beat fourth seeded pair of Anjan and Ranjan of Assam 21-14, 21-15.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO: Title winners Rutaparna Panda (Centre) with her partners Arundhuti Pantawane (Left) and K Nandagopal in Lucknow on March 18, 2018.