Fisherman's Daughter Lika Wins First Senior Singles Title at National Badminton, Beating Urmi in Final
Lika Poddar has won the women's singles title at the 40th National Badminton Championship at the Wooden Floor Gymnasium in Paltan, Dhaka. She became champion in her first appearance in a senior singles final.
Playing for Narayanganj District Sports Association, Lika beat Bangladesh Army's Urmi Akhtar in a three-game final. She won the first game 22-20, lost the second 11-21, and won the deciding game 21-18.
Urmi Akhtar had previously won this event in 2022 and 2023. Lika's first national senior title therefore came against an experienced champion.
The 24-year-old Lika is from Bagerhat. Her father earns the family living by fishing in the river. After the win she spoke of her family's hard work, saying continuing badminton amid financial limits had not been easy for her.
After receiving the trophy, Lika video-called her mother in Mongla from Dhaka. She broke down in tears while speaking, and her mother could not hold back her emotion at her daughter's success either.
After the win Lika said the title would inspire her to do better. She said, 'I want to work harder ahead. I want to do well for the country in international competitions.'
Reaching the final for the first time was itself a big experience for her, and she had not expected to win the title. Her target now is to improve her game and build strong competition in the next tournaments, for which she wants to focus more on practice.
The men's singles final was not played. With Bangladesh Ansar's Sibgat Ullah unable to play because of injury, Rajin Ahmed of Sylhet District Sports Association became champion by walkover.
In men's doubles, Bangladesh Ansar's Moazzem Hossain Ohidul-Shuvo Khandaker pair beat the Army's Al Amin Jumar-S M Sifat Ullah pair 22-24, 21-18 and 26-24.
In women's doubles, the Army's Brishti Khatun-S K Pritha pair beat the Lika-Smriti Rajbanshi pair 23-21 and 21-17. So while Lika won the singles title, she finished runner-up in doubles.
In mixed doubles, the Al Amin Jumar-Urmi Akhtar pair beat the Tamim Hasan-S K Pritha pair 21-17 and 21-14.
