KPL 2026 began with badminton this time, but the real start was a month earlier with registrations and regular practice. Every evening, the badminton courts near our office stayed active. All our people showed up, stayed consistent, and kept improving their game.
More Players, More Competition
This year saw more participation than before. We had a mix of beginner and intermediate players across categories. Many signed up for multiple categories, which brought tougher matchups and closer games. It also meant no easy rounds for anyone.
A few days before match day, we had quizzes and a fixtures meeting. People were busy figuring out opponents and shaping their approach.
The Match Day
On the last Saturday of March, the tournament moved into match day. It was held at Lifespring, an indoor court near our office in Coimbatore. Courts were occupied throughout, with matches running side by side across different categories.
One of the closest contests came in the Men’s Doubles Beginner semifinals. Sprouts, with KavinBharathi Thilakaraj, Lead Account Manager, and Ranjith Sampath, Customer Accounts Executive, faced Diablo, represented by Sujith Sairam Murugesan, Software Engineer, and Mohamed Kasim Bahad, Senior Software Engineer.
The match stayed even for most of the game. Neither pair gave much away, and the lead kept shifting. It eventually closed at 30–28, one of the tightest finishes of the day.
Sujith, says,
The tournament was really fun and a nice break from our usual work routine. The semifinal was intense and came down to the last few points, which made it one of the most exciting games I’ve played.
A Moment That Everyone Remembered
Beyond the competition, there was one moment that stood out.
Mithun Kandasamy, Senior Manager – QA, had his daughter step onto the court and play with confidence. She played beyond her years, with a control and ease that caught everyone’s attention. The crowd stayed with her through every stroke, watching closely and cheering her on.
Small Breaks in between
Between matches, we took short breaks. Energy drinks and paneer sandwiches kept everyone going. Those breaks also brought conversations. People discussed strategies, shared laughs, and got ready for the next round.
Moments That Made the Day
There were plenty of lighter moments, too. At one point, a player’s racket strings gave way mid-game. A few shots went completely off, but those were moments brought a lot of laughter. The day brought out the usual team camaraderie on the badminton court. Kids who joined in spent their time cheering and enjoying the matches.
The Final Stretch
As the tournament moved forward, the matches became more interesting. Quarter-finals and semi-finals set up clear finals across categories.
In the Women’s Singles final, Meenakshi Vijay, Intern – Customer Success Specialist, faced Charulatha Ravichandran, Customer Success Specialist. The match followed a steady flow. Meenakshi led both sets and closed them at 15–7 and 15–7. She kept her game consistent, which helped her see through both sets.
Meenakshi, says,
Taking part in a corporate tournament for the first time was an incredible experience. From last-minute strategies to nonstop cheering, every moment was filled with energy and excitement. It wasn’t just about the competition, it was about teamwork, bonding, and shared wins. Definitely an experience I’d love to relive!
Celebrating Our Champions
Here’s a look at the winners and runners across categories.
Meenakshi Vijay, Intern Customer Success Specialist, won the Women’s Singles title, with Charulatha Ravichandran, Customer Success Specialist, finished as the runner-up. In the Women’s Doubles category, Watch Twice -Charulatha Ravichandran and Pavithira Rajendran, Lead Data Scientist, secured the title, with Flying Feathers – Meenakshi Vijay and Shreeja Janarthanan, Senior Customer Success Manager, finished as runners-up.
Guruprasath Deivasigamani, Director of Customer Revenue, won the Men’s Singles – Beginner title, with Dharshan Kumar Selvakumar, Software Engineer, finished as the runner-up. In the Men’s Singles – Intermediate & Advanced category, Anfred Antony, Creative Designer, secured the win, while Karthikeyan Ramasamy, Security Engineer, finished as the runner-up.
In the Men’s Doubles – Beginner category, Sprouts, Kavinbharathi Thilakaraj, Lead Account Manager & Ranjith Sampath, Customer Accounts Executive, won the title, while 2G’s Gunasekhar Paramasivan, Lead – Account Executive & Gunasurya Muthusamy, Intern Customer Accounts Executive, finished as runners-up. In the Men’s Doubles – Intermediate & Advanced category, Game Point Pranap Sivadasan, Senior Software Engineer & Ajayganesh Gnanalingam, SDET, secured the win, with Feather Hacker Karthikeyan Ramasamy, Security Engineer & Franko Joseph, Senior Lead Software Engineer, as runners-up. In the Mixed Doubles category, Smash Mates Ajayganesh Gnanalingam, SDET & Meenakshi Vijay, Intern Customer Success Specialist, emerged as winners, while Titans Aswin Ramesh, Senior Customer Success Manager & Charulatha Ravichandran, Customer Success Specialist, were the runners-up.
This is the beginning of our KPL 2026. There is more to come!
#TogetherWeGrow
