Dehradun, Feb. 7 -- Tamil Nadu's K Sathish Kumar showcased a masterclass in strategy as he outplayed Uttarakhand's 16-year-old Suryaksh Rawat 21-17, 21-17 to claim the men's singles gold at the National Games badminton event held at the Parade Ground indoor hall on Tuesday.

The top-seeded Chennai-born shuttler, who trains in Malaysia, used his superior court coverage and steep jump shots to keep the unseeded Suryaksh on the defensive for most of the final. His deceptive gameplay, particularly his crosscourt smashes and precision in placing the shuttle within the lines, left the young Uttarakhand player struggling to find answers.

Suryaksh, impressed with his resilience in the semifinals, attempted to counter Sathish by engaging him in n...