Punjab Shuttlers Script Record Run at North Zone Championship

Punjab’s badminton contingent delivered a record-breaking performance at the North Zone Badminton Championship in Rajasthan, returning with 10 medals — the state’s biggest haul in the history of the tournament.

The Punjab players finished their campaign in Bhilwara on Sunday with four gold, three silver and three bronze medals across senior and junior events. The results also earned the medal winners direct qualification for the Junior and Senior National Badminton Championships.

Punjab Badminton Association secretary Ritin Khanna described the performance as a milestone for the state, saying Punjab had never previously secured 10 medals at the North Zone championship.

Leading the gold rush was Patiala’s Jagsher Singh Khangura, who emerged champion in the men’s singles. Jalandhar’s Viren Seth claimed the junior boys’ singles crown, while Gurdaspur’s Mehvish Kaur took gold in the junior girls’ singles.

Seth added another title to his tally in the junior boys’ doubles, combining with Ludhiana’s Aditya Sharma to secure Punjab’s fourth gold medal of the championship.

Punjab’s players also reached the finals in three other events. Mehvish Kaur added a silver medal in the women’s singles to her junior title, while Ludhiana pair Arryan and Syamprasad finished second in the men’s doubles. Sangrur’s Seeza and Amritsar’s Samaira took silver in the girls’ doubles.

The bronze medals came through Ludhiana’s Gursimrat Kaur Chahal in the women’s singles and Jalandhar’s Divyam Sachdeva in the boys’ singles. Jalandhar’s Smarth Bhardwaj and Seeza combined for another bronze in the mixed doubles.

Khanna said the unprecedented medal tally reflected the growing pool of competitive badminton players in Punjab, including youngsters emerging from rural areas. He said the state’s shuttlers had increasingly made their presence felt at both national and international competitions over the past two years.

The North Zone success also adds to a promising period for Punjab badminton on the international circuit. Tanvi Sharma recently captured her maiden BWF World Tour women’s singles crown at the Taipei Open Super 300.

Punjab’s presence at the international junior level is also continuing through Jalandhar’s Inayat Gulati, who is representing India at the Junior Asia Badminton Championship in China.

With 10 podium finishes and four champions emerging from Bhilwara, Punjab’s campaign has provided another indication of the growing depth of the state’s badminton talent across age groups and events.