Ludhiana shuttler bags jr world ranking title in Hungary

Anil Datt

Ludhiana, September 4

City-based badminton prodigy Lakshay Sharma (16) hogged the limelight in the international arena again as he annexed the title at the 11th Multi-Alarm Hungarian International Junior World Badminton Ranking Championship, held from August 27 to 29 at Pecs in Hungary.

Lakshay won the title in the U-19 category wherein a number of world ranking shuttlers with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) vied for the top honours. Lakshay’s BWF profile is without any rank but he overpowered his experienced opponents to lay his hands on the title.

Lakshay, a student of Class XI at Sacred Heart Convent School, Sarabha Nagar, began his campaign with a win against Ou Yang Wang from the host country, whom he defeated 21-18, 21-10. In the second round, Lakshay beat Armin Sarosi of Austria 21-10, 21-11.

In the pre-quarter final, the city lad outplayed Mathys Boudelier of France 21-9, 21-11 and in the quarter final, he outclassed Adam Konczol from Hungary to storm into the last four.

In the semifinal, he outwitted Matej Rzeplinski of Czech Republic 21-13, 21-15 to secure his berth in the title clash. In the final, Lakshay survived a scare before romping home victorious against Yaro Van Delsen of Belgium, world ranking 65, winning 21-13, 18-21 and 21-19.

A trainee of his father Mangat Rai Sharma, an NIS qualified and former national coach, Lakshay already has a couple of international medals in his kitty, including gold medal in the Youth International Badminton Championship held at Glasgow, Scotland (UK), and silver medal in the doubles category; and gold medal in the singles and doubles categories at the Swiss Youth Open Badminton Championship-2015.

Rajinder Singh Kalsi, secretary, Punjab Badminton Association; Sister Reshmi, principal of Sacred Heart Convent School; Arun Dhand, former national and World Masters champion; and Mohinder Singh Grewal, president of District Badminton Association, congratulated Lakshay.

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