Porus Panthers swept the three doubles ties to edge out Film Nagar Cultural Center (FNCC) Lions in the FNCC-Pullela Gopichand Badminton League 2026 at the Film Nagar Cultural Center in Hyderabad on Saturday. Porus Panthers recorded a narrow 6-5 win over the hosts.
FNCC Lions, who were strong in the singles ties, won the men’s junior as Krishna scored an easy 15-11, 15-10 victory over Satwik.
The teams split the two singles in the women’s’ junior category. Porus Panthers Aadhya came from a game behind to edge out Lohita of FNCC. Aadhya won 11-15, 15-14, 15-14 with the second and third games being tightly fought contests. Aaradhya then defeated Hamsini in another three-game affair to put FNCC back in the lead. Aaradhya won the first game at 15-14 but suffered a mid-match blues. She lost the second game at 10-15. In the decider, both players fought tooth-and-nail but Aaradhya managed to pip her rival at 15-14.
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In the men’s singles, Porus Panthers won two out of the three ties. Dayan Santosh defeated Sai Vasan of Panthers in straight games at 15-9, 15-13. However, Shankar brought his side back into contention as he pulled off a thriller against FNCC’s Rohan. Shankar lost the first game at 12-15 but then tightened up his socks to win the second at 15-14 and force the issue to the decider. In the final game, Shankar prevailed 15-13 over a fighting Rohan.
In the third singles tie, Pranav Rao too came from behind to pip Dattu of FNCC. Pranav lost the first game at 13-15 but staged a remarkable comeback to win the next one at 15-12 and the decider at 15-11.
Both the women’s singles tie were a cakewalk for FNCC shuttlers. Rakshitha came from one game down to down Illisha of Panthers. Rakshitha lost the first game at 9-15 but picked up her game to a different level. She took the next game at 15-14 and ran over her opponent in the decider at 15-11.
Gatha had a relatively easy outing against Bonam as she won both game with identical scores. Gatha won 15-13, 15-13.
Panthers win all the doubles ties
In the men’s doubles, Porus Panthers’ shuttles Niranjan and Satwik had to wage a grim battle before prevailing over Ishan and Om. Niranjan and Satwik lost the first game 10-15 but came back strongly in the next one. They took the second game at 15-10 and then managed to keep their rivals out of the contest as they took the final game at 15-13.
The story was not much different in the women’s doubles as Ananya and Srinidhi came from a game down to pip Anushka and Anagha in yet another three-game contest. Ananya and Srinidhi lost the closely fought first game at 14-15. They, however, upped the ante a notch to win the next game at 15-13 and then take the decider at 15-13.
In the junior mixed doubles event, Charan and Ananya defeated Anushka and Anagha after losing the first game. The Panthers duo lost the first game at 8-15 but then took the next two games at 15-10 and 15-13.
Results: Porus Panthers beat FNCC Lions 6-5
Men’s junior: Satwik lost to Krishna 11-15, 10-15.
Women’s junior: Aadhya beat Lohitha 11-15, 15-14, 15-14; Hamsini lost to Aaradhya 14-15, 15-10, 14-15.
Men’s singles: Sai Vasan lost to Dayan Santosh 9-15, 13-15; Shankar beat Rohan 12-15, 15-14, 15-13; Pranav Rao beat Dattu 13-15, 15-12, 15-11.
Women’s singles: Ilisha lost to Rakshitha 15-9, 14-15, 11-5; Bonam lost to Gatha 13-15, 13-15.
Men’s doubles: Niranjan / Satwik beat Ishan / Om 10-15, 15-10, 15-13.
Women’s doubles: Ananya / Srinidhi beat Anushka / Anagha 14-15, 15-13, 15-13.
Junior mixed doubles: Charan / Ananya beat Divyansh / Anushka Anagha 8-15, 15-10, 15-13.
