Pune: Promising youngsters Varun Kapur and Purva Barve from Nikhil Kanetkar Badminton Academy reached the finals in their respective categories and tournaments on Saturday.
Top seed Varun Kapur, who recently won a bronze at the Bulgarian Junior International Championships upped his game this time and looked more determined thus making it to the finals in the Boys Singles Under-19 category of the RSL Lithuanian Junior 2019.
In the semifinals, Varun defeated 4th seeded Hans-Kristjan Pilve from Estonia 21-14, 21-16 to move one step closer to the title.
Earlier in the quarterfinals, Varun defeated 8th seeded Norway player Ludwig Smith-Meyer with the score reading 21-13, 21-13.
The second round witnessed Varun defeating Lithiuania’s Jonas Petkus 21-14,21-10. In the first round, Varun got the better of Tauri Kilk from Estonia 21-18, 21-10.
Purva impresses in Parbhani
NKBA trainee Purva Barve reached her second consecutive final of the Maharashtra State Championships being played at Parbhani.
In the semifinal action of the Women’s Singles category, top seeded Purva defeated Mrunmayi Saoji who is fourth seeded 21-18, 21-9. Earlier in the quarterfinals, Purva beat Kalyani Limaye 21-17, 21-10.
It has been an impressive year so far for the 18 year old as this is her first year in the Women’s category. She has won a district title and has reached two state finals and one all India finals in the women’s category.
