The first half of June had us experience the ladies of Zenith battle it out in spirited matches of the Throwball tournament and the last week of June made us witness the fiery competitiveness of the kids, ladies and gents alike in the Zenith Table Tennis tournament. The month of July was a no dampener as well as the residents geared themselves up for another exhilarating and energy sapping experience for the group’s next event, the badminton tournament. The much-awaited “Lets Shuttle 2.0”, the Second Edition of Zenith’s badminton tournament, was slated for 26th and 27th July 2025 at the Shasu Badminton Academy.
Organised by The Squad, this edition of the tournament witnessed record participation with players across different skill levels—from beginners to seasoned enthusiasts. This edition also saw participation from residents across all age groups, competing in Ladies Doubles, Gentlemen’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and Kids Doubles categories ushering in a renewed sense of enthusiasm and anticipation
Preparation & Groundwork
With the success of the recently concluded Throwball and Table tennis tournaments, the onus was on the organising committee comprising of Pritheev, Karthik Kannan (KK), Aishwarya, Vignesh, Prasanna and Easwar, to at least match thee preceding events if not surpass the expectations. To that effect, the first and foremost item to be covered was to identify a quality court to conduct the tournament. Pritheev and KK were instrumental in identifying Shasu Badminton Court, which had quality courts and to make things even sweeter, was nearby as well. Registrations were handled by Vignesh and Aishwarya who toiled very hard to manage the same mainly to mitigate the drop outs. Prasanna, Vignesh, KK and Easwar handled the operations part of player and payment verification and the digital posters. Also taking into consideration the feedback from the previous tournament, the rules and fixtures were arrived at after much deliberation to ensure everyone had ample court time and at times convenient for them.
Participation & Enthusiasm
Once the pairings and group details were declared, the entire community was abuzz about the individual preparations. Teams and groups we’re formed, courts were booked in and around the locality and everyone meticulously practiced irrespective of what the outcome was got to be. The enthusiasm with which everyone approached the tournament was a sight to behold with strangers partnering up or as opponents and becoming acquaintances even before the start of the tournament.
Match days - A Smashing Hit!
The courts of Shasu Badminton Academy came alive on the 26th of July as Zenith residents battled it out on the court. Day 1 started off with the group phase games for the Ladies Doubles and the Gentlemen’s Doubles events.
Day 2 was even more electrifying with all the kids doubles and mixed doubles group games taking place during the morning and afternoon sessions before moving on to the knockout games.
The entire evening session of 27th July was dedicated to all the knockout games. The final event event of the tournament - the mixed doubles finals even breached the midnight mark and was over only at 12:30 am.
Throughout the 2 days, the sidelines buzzed with spirited cheering, friendly banter, and community connections. With snacks, beverages, and plenty of photo moments, the event became as much about bonding as it was about badminton
Category Highlights
Kids Doubles
The Kids Doubles matches were a delight to watch, filled with enthusiasm and boundless energy. Young shuttlers impressed everyone with their commitment, growing skills, and willingness to learn, making the future of Zenith badminton look promising.
Winners: Master Aarav G (D607) & Master Kevin L (E306)
Runners-up: Master Vishnu Vidharth (H 706) & Master Nikhilesh (G 1305)
Left to Right - Aarav, Kevin, Vishnu & Nikhilesh
Ladies Doubles
The Ladies Doubles category showcased impeccable coordination and agility. Several matches went down to the wire, reflecting exceptional fitness and teamwork among participants. The finals displayed a high level of competitive spirit and sportsmanship.
Winners: Mrs. Gayathri S (G905) & Mrs. G Aiswarya Renukha (J402)
Runners-up: Mrs. Jayanthi.J (G1305) & Mrs. Archana B R (H904)
Left to Right - Aishwarya, Gayathri, Archana & Jayanthi
Mixed Doubles
A perfect combination of skill and strategy, this category brought out the best of teamwork between male and female players. The mixed pairings added a unique dynamic to the sport, with remarkable coordination and tactical play seen in the finals. Special call out to Niranjan who played beyond his age category and entertained everyone.
Winners: Mrs. Lavanya (H 607) & Mr. Kariappan (H 607)
Runners-up: Mrs. Ponni (F 907) & Master Niranjan (F 907)
Left to Right - Kariappan, Lavanya, Ponni, Niranjan
Gentlemen’s Doubles
This was one of the most hotly contested categories, featuring intense smashes, quick reflexes, clever net play and draining thrillers. The participants demonstrated tremendous skill and determination, making every rally thrilling for the spectators.
Winners: Mr. Kariappan V (H607) & Mr. Gopal (J1103)
Runners-up: Mr. Sasikumar (F805) & Mr. Shanmugam (F1402)
Left to right - Gopal, Kariappan, Sasikumar & Shanmugam
The Awards Night
It was a special evening on Saturday the 2nd of August when the valedictory function of Let’s Shuttle 2.0 happened. The stage was set at the Phase I Podium area for the awards ceremony. The EC team presided over the ceremony along with other distinguished dignitaries who distributed the medals and trophies for the semi finalists, runners up and winners for all the categories.
The organising committee also decided to felicitate all the kids participating in the tournament with a medal as a token of appreciation and encouragement.
Also on behalf of the organising committee, we would like to thank Mrs. Dheepa Prem Kumar & Mr. Prem Kumar for their thoughtful gesture in providing all semi finalists in the Kids Category with a memento to celebrate their dedication and to encourage.
Special Thanks
• Ashok Kumar Upadhyay for ideating and identifying the organising committee.
• Pritheev, KK, Aishwarya, Vignesh, Prasanna and Easwar for organising the event and making it a grand success.
• Shasu Badminton Academy for the top-notch courts and support.
• Black Pekoe for providing with the refreshments on site.
• EC members and other dignitaries available during awards ceremony to give away the trophies and medals to the participants and winners.
• Mrs. & Mr. Prem Kumar for their kind gesture.
• And last but not the least, all volunteers, referees, line umpires and residents whose enthusiasm made this event truly special.
Au revoir - till we meet again
Throughout the event, participants exhibited fair play, discipline, and respect for their opponents, truly embodying the spirit of sportsmanship. The tournament also fostered a competitive yet friendly sporting spirit, further strengthening community bonds within Zenith. Moreover, it also saw residents of all ages bring their A-game, cheered on by a lively crowd that turned the tournament into a true sporting festival.
“Lets Shuttle 2.0” was more than just a badminton tournament—it was a celebration of talent, fitness, and togetherness. With its resounding success, the sports committee “The Squad” aims to bring in more similar events to the residents, inspiring more residents to pick up the some sport and join the fun.
Till we meet again in Let’s Shuttle 3.0, this is Easwar signing off. Stay fit! Stay Healthy!! Stay Blessed!!!
Thanks
Organising Committee
Let’s Shuttle 2.0