Top Odisha shuttler Rutuparna Panda won her maiden international title by emerging women’s doubles champion with partner Arathi Sara Sunil in the Hellas Open-2018 badminton tournament, held at Chania in Greece from October 18-21, 2018.

Cuttack girl Rutuparna and Arathi achieved the feat by beating Vimala Heriau and Margot Lambert of France 21-19, 21-12 in the final that lasted for 50 minutes. Rutaparna and Arathi paired together in May this year after the former’s regular partner Mithula UK sustained injuries.

RESULTS OF RUTAPARNA-ARATHI:

Round-1: Walk-over against Serena Au Yeong-Katharina Hochmeir (Netherlands).
Round-2: Beat Jenny Nystrom-Sonia Pekkola (Finland) 23-21, 21-16.
Quarterfinal: Beat Zehra Erdem-Ilayda Nur Ozelgul (Turkey) 21-15,, 21-18.
Semifinal: Beat Abigail Holden-Lizzie Tolman (England) 21-14, 15-21, 21-15.
Final: Beat Vimala Heriau-Margot Lambert (France) 21-19, 21-12.
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PHOTO: Women’s doubles champions Rutaparna Panda (2nd from left) and Arathi Sara Sunil (2nd from right) at the podium with the runners-up in Chania, Greece on Oct 21, 2018.