Cuttack: The Odisha Masters 2023 commenced at the JN Indoor Stadium in Cuttack. Acknowledged as one of Asia’s premier badminton competitions, the tournament features an impressive prize pool of USD 100,000 and holds the distinguished status of being a BWF Tour Super 100 event.
Day 1 witnessed spirited matches with players from more than 30 countries competing across five categories: Men’s Single, Women’s Single, Men’s Mixed Double, Women’s Mixed Double, and Mixed Double.
In the Women’s Single category, Isharani Baruah (India) emerged victorious over Indonesia’s Mutiara Ayu Puspitasari with a scoreline of 25-23, 21-17. Meanwhile, Varun Kapur (India), seeded 8th in Men’s Single, advanced with a walkover from Ansal Yadav (India). Likhita Srivastava (India) showcased her prowess in an intense Women’s Single clash, defeating Uganda’s Gladys Mbabazi with a score of 21-11, 21-14.
In the realm of Mixed Doubles, Nithin HV and Chayanit Joshi (India) secured a win against Zhakuo Seyie and Vedant Sharma (India) with a score of 21-10, 21-15. Shriyanshi Valishetty (India) clinched victory over Janani Ananathakumar (India) with a thrilling score of 21-16, 8-21, 21-17. In another gripping fixture, the pair of Tushar Gagneja and Balkeshari Yadav (India) succumbed to Sumeeth Reddy and Ashith Surya with a score of 21-19, 21-16.
For enthusiastic fans, entry to the JN Indoor Stadium is free, providing an opportunity to witness their favorite players in action.
Speaking on the occasion, Sports Secretary Vineel Krishna stated, “We are hosting Odisha Masters in Cuttack. Badminton is a priority for us, and we have undertaken a number of measures for the holistic development of the game. We have top-class players from over 30 countries who are playing in Odisha. This competition will be an excellent platform for budding athletes to strive for the highest level of the game. We look forward to hosting more international events in Odisha in the coming years.”
Vivek Saraf, the competition manager, emphasized the tournament’s significance, saying, “The level of the players taking part in the tournament is very high, so the competition between them is exciting to watch. This tournament is a Super 100 Series Tournament, and the points that players earn will help them participate in bigger leagues. Badminton in India is coming in a big way.”
Rutaparna Panda, a participant from Odisha, expressed her joy, “We played three matches today. I loved every minute of playing at the JN Indoor Stadium. It feels great to play here as it is my first international tournament in Odisha.”
MD and CEO, Puneet Dalmia of Dalmia Bharat Limited, shared his thoughts, “We are delighted to witness the return of the Odisha Masters to Cuttack this year. The partnership with the Odisha government and the Badminton Association of India reflects our shared commitment to promoting the essence of badminton—a sport that embodies focus, endurance, and integrity. We extend our best wishes to all the players participating in the tournament.”