Nitin Kumar and Likhita Srivastava Win Mixed Doubles Gold at Pune Badminton Tournament

Hyderabad-based badminton players Nitin Kumar and Likhita Srivastava clinched the mixed doubles gold medal at the recently concluded Yonex-Sunrise Memorial All India Senior Ranking Badminton Tournament 2026 in Pune. The duo, who train at the Suchitra Badminton Academy in Hyderabad, delivered a strong performance against some of the country’s top-ranked shuttlers.

Throughout the tournament, the pairing displayed outstanding coordination and match temperament. Their efforts in the mixed doubles category earned them the gold medal, adding another prestigious national title to their achievements.

Likhita Srivastava also secured a silver medal in the women’s doubles category. Partnering with Shreya Balaji, her podium finish contributed to a highly successful tournament for the Hyderabad academy.

Following their victories, the players expressed their appreciation to Pradeep Raju, the founder of Suchitra Badminton Academy. They credited his constant mentorship, encouragement, and unwavering commitment to supporting athletes for helping them perform consistently at the highest level.

The players also highlighted the contributions of Enroe, the doubles head coach at Suchitra Badminton Academy. Enroe, a former member of the Indonesian national team, has been training both players for a long time. His vast international experience has played a pivotal role in developing their doubles game and has significantly contributed to their recent success on the national circuit.

According to the players, the academy's high-performance environment, structured coaching system, and athlete-focused approach have provided them with the necessary platform to compete and succeed at the national level.

Commenting on the players' success, Pradeep Raju praised their commitment. He stated that the outstanding achievement once again reflects the strong training culture and commitment to excellence being fostered at Suchitra Badminton Academy, which continues to produce and support some of India's leading badminton talent.