Shlok Ramchandran, all of 14 years from Ryan International School (Malad), was all style and grace on the badminton court as he stroked his way past his rivals-Satyajit Jagdale in the boys’under-16 and Mukul Padgaonkar in the under-19 singles-to move into the last four stage of both the events in the Goregaon Sports Club-1st Maharashtra State level junior badminton tournament, hosted by the Goregaon Sports Club on Saturday.

Ramachandran, who first won 21-9, 21-12 in the under-16 event, was at his devastating best later on as he thrashed Padgaonkar 21-4, 21-6. Jagdale wasn’t spared the agony either as he was made to run around the court from one corner to the other or rush towards the net to combat his opponent’s delicate drop shots-almost every single time in vain.

Ramachandran, who is being coached at the Uday Pawar Badminton Academy at Andheri, is quite confident of his chances of winning both the titles. “I am playing well and hope to end with a double whammy,”he said after his convincing victories. The schools under-16 champion is on course to rake in a bagful of trophies after having made the semis in both the singles as well as the boys’under-16 and under-19 doubles.

Ameya Mangaonkar meanwhile continued to impress with his spirited display as he followed up his narrow win in the pre-quarterfinals, by dominating Debashis Navdikar and entering the last four stage with a 23-21, 21-16 win in the boys under-13 event. Chirag Shetty, Harsh Jagdale and Sai Dinesh Reddy also recorded easy wins as they completed the field for the semifinals. Shetty eased past Siddesh Sambare 21-6, 21-7, while Jagdale cruised to a comfortable win against Reuben Verghese 21-14, 21-8.

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