Dima Aradah, Mohammad Munawer clinch India Open titles
36th edition of annual badminton tournament concludes at India Club
Dubai: Sharjah-based teenager Mohammad Munawer won the men’s singles, while Jordan’s Dima Aradah clinched a double in the women’s category at the 36th India Club IndiaBulls UAE Open Badminton Tournament 2013 that concluded last week.
The 18-year-old Munawer, who recently finished his Grade 12 and enrolled for a degree in Business Administration, had last year clinched the Kerala state Under-19 title and finished runner-up in the Under-19 men’s doubles.
Playing against Irfan Saeed, who flew into Dubai from Pakistan to play the UAE Open, Munawer won in three stiff sets 21-16, 12-21, 21-17 to walk away with the top prize of Dh3,000, a trophy and a pair of Carrera sunglasses.
However, Munawer and his partner Mohammad Asiking fell against Diju V and Rupesh Kumar from India 11-21, 9-21 in the men’s doubles.
The Sharjah lad was up for the mixed doubles crown as well, but he and partner Teena M. Cheriyan went down in straight sets 17-21, 10-21 against Diju V and experienced Dubai resident Vidya Manghnani.
The ladies singles crown went to Jordan’s Dima Aradah with a convincing 21-12, 21-9 win over India’s Ira Sharma. Aradah went on to complete a double when she teamed up with Farzana Ansari from Iran to defeat Bindu Nair and Meeta Bhandari 18-21, 21-19, 21-11.
Dr Ram Buxani, India Club Chairman, presented the trophies in the presence of Sunil Singh, Convenor of Sports Section at India Club. Also present were, Indiabulls Assistant Vice President, Marketing and Business Development Siddhesh Priolkar; Western Union Financial Services Regional Director for Middle East and Africa Prasad Katta and Saleh Ali Al Mazmi, Head of Licensing, CDA.
