Patna: The dream run of Bihar’s Saloni Kumari at East Zone and Inter State Badminton Championships ended when she lost her final match in a three-set thriller to Amolika Singh of Uttar Pradesh 21-23, 21-13, 21-15 in Kolkata on Monday.
The final of the women’s singles lasted one hour and 14 minutes. Saloni won the first set at 23-21. But the Uttar Pradesh girl Amolika fought back in the second set and won it 21-13. After levelling the game, she did not allow Saloni to come back into the match in the third and final set and won it 21-15. In all Saloni fought bravely in all the three sets.
Bihar doubles pair of Amrit Raj and Raj Aryan also met the same fate in the boys doubles final against Ansh Vishal Gupta and Ujjwal. The Bihar pair won the first set 21-17 but Amrit Raj and Raj Aryan failed to maintain their game in the next two set and lost next two sets 17-21, 13-21.
Though, the Bihar shuttlers failed to clear the final hurdle but two silver medals in national tournament are record of a sort in the history of Bihar badminton. It may be mentioned here that Bihar also won bronze medal in the boys team event.
