Pune: Nikhil Kanetkar Badminton Academy’s (NKBA) Purva Barve, showcased her grit and consistency as she stormed to the Women’s Singles title at the Yonex-Sunrise Shri Nandu Natekar Memorial Maharashtra State Senior Selection Tournament 2025, held at Chhatrapati Shahu Nagar.
Seeded third in the draw, Purva delivered a commanding performance in the final, defeating second seed Tanishka Deshpande 21-15, 21-15 in straight games to lift the coveted crown.
Her journey to the title was anything but easy. In the semi-finals, Purva displayed remarkable composure to overcome top seed Saad Dharmadhikari in a thrilling contest, rallying back from a game down to seal the match 20-22, 21-15, 19-15. Earlier, in the quarterfinals, she powered past sixth seed Aarya Korgaonkar with a confident 21-14, 21-16 victory.
Speaking after her triumph, an elated Purva said, “The tournament has been a wonderful learning experience. I would like to thank my parents, coaches, and everyone at NKBA for their support.”
Speaking about Purva’s performance, Nikhil Kanetkar said “Purva has been consistently winning State Titles over the years. This win will increase her confidence and I hope she continues her winning streak in the upcoming All India & International tournaments.”
The win not only highlights Purva’s growing stature in state badminton but also underlines the academy’s commitment to nurturing young talent under the guidance of Olympian Nikhil Kanetkar.
