IMPHAL, November 11: State lad L Unilkumar has reached the main round of the U-17 boys’ Singles event of the ongoing 37th Junior National Badminton Championship at the Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium today.
The qualifying round of the championship had started since yesterday at the same venue. On the first day of the qualifying round, Manipur’s L Dickson was defeated by Dhruva of Delhi in the U-17 boys Singles event.
Meanwhile, in a qualifying match today L Unilkumar defeated Chetan Raj Karnataka by 23-21, 19-21, 21-14.
Unilkumar had received a bye in his first round and defeated A Mishra MP by 21-10, 21-12 in his second match of his qualifying round.
Unilkumar an orphan from Thoubal Leishangthem had been playing at the 2nd Manipur Rifles after DGP Joykumar took him in in 2010. He started playing badminton since 2008.
Unilkumar a Class VIII student of Lilasing Khongnang Makhong High School, started representing Thoubal district in state level championships ever since.
State DGP who was among the spectators expressed after Unilkumar’s match that the youngster’s performance was not up to mark.
He however added that a badminton court is under construction at Iroishemba. He expressed his hope that Unilkumar would be able to hone his skills to international level after the Iroishemba court is completed.
