Akendra aims for new racquet

Shuttler Akendra Darjee hopes to end the year by winning the PSA-NIA Maharashtra State Open badminton title and till yesterday he was right on track. Darjee comfortably advanced to the U-15 boys' quarterfinals with a 30-27 win over Nirav Sthalekat at North India Association courts.

"I want to win this title badly, as I can buy myself a good Yonex racquet with the prize money. I have earned some money by doing duty of a linesman at the recently concluded Tata Open, but I need some more and this win could give me that," Akendra told MiD DAY.

His stint as a linesman at the Tata Open helped him learn on-court tactics used by international players. "Being a linesman in that meet was actually like learning the nuances of the game live. I learnt how they deal with pressure during tight situations," he added.

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