Bhat, Mutatkar Badminton champions

Aditi Mutatkar began the 75th edition of the senior national badminton championship with a loss against Arundhati Pantawane in the Inter-state team championship.

Five days later, the 23-year-old from Pune had the final laugh when she came back from the brink to beat the same opponent and lift her maiden national title. The Petroleum Sports Promotion Board shuttler saved three match points to win 19-21, 23-21, 21-15 in one hour 55 minutes.

PSPB's Aravind Bhat defeated Commonwealth Games bronze medallist P Kashyap 21-13, 21-17 to bag his second men's singles crown.

While the men's singles final did not live up to it's billing, the women's tie went to the wire until Mutatkar's experience prevailed over the lively pace of Pantawane. Pantawane came out blazing in the opener but Mutatkar was ready to grind for every point. The 23-year-old, had been laid low by a spate of knee injuries. Last year she conceded her semifinal and had skipped two tournaments due to calf injury before the nationals. Final results