Teen Manipuri shuttler Luwang Maisnam says winning men's singles title at Maha Metro Maharashtra International Challenge is special as he had also won the U-17 title here in 2018
Meiraba Luwang Maisnam poses with his Maha Metro Maharashtra International Challenge men's singles trophy and medal in Nagpur on Sunday
IT was a homecoming of sorts for teen shuttler Meiraba Luwang Maisnam, 19, who won the men's singles title beating compatriot Mithun Manjunath in the final of the Maha Metro Maharashtra International Challenge in Nagpur on Sunday. Meiraba, 19, seeded fourth, registered a 21-14, 21-16 win over second seed Manjunath in 42 minutes. This is the teenager's second title at Nagpur's Divisional Sports Complex Stadium in Mankapur.
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He had previously won the U-17 All India Sub-junior ranking event in 2018 at the same venue. The men's singles title also happens to be Meiraba's second title of the season, having clinched the Iran Fajr International in February this year. 
Meiraba Luwang Maisnam with his father Romesh
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"It feels nice to win a title anywhere, but this one is special, considering I had won my U-17 title also here," Meiraba, who has been training at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bangalore since 2013, told www.mid-day.com. Meiraba stunned top seed Kiran George 22-20, 21-14 in the semis. Meiraba, Manjunath and George all train together at the Padukone Academy.
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"I've been playing with Mithun, Kiran among others at the academy for a long time now so we know each other's game well. We are good friends off the court and professionals on it," added Meiraba, who took to badminton at an early age when his father, Romesh, a badminton coach, would take him along to the DM College courts in Manipur. "My father used to train youngsters at DM College, so I would tag along and started playing there. Slowly, I began doing well. I want to keep improving and make my dad proud," added Meiraba, a second year student of Bachelor of Physical Education (BPED) at Punjab University.
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