Mumbai, Aug 31 (IANS): The finals of Shuttle Express here Saturday witnessed Siril Verma and Kanika Kanwal emerge champions and pocket Rs.10 lakhs each.

Siril beat Akshay Verma 21-19, 21-8 in the U-16 boys category while Kanika won 21-7, 21-18 against Bhavya Rishi in the U-16 girls singles.

"We created Shuttle Express with the sole intention of giving India their next champion. I am confident today that the winners of today will not stop their journey in the world of badminton here today rather their journey has started today," said Ashish Chadha, chief executive of Sporty Solutionz, the commercial partner of the Indian Badminton League (IBL).

Speaking on the occasion, Badminton Association of India president Akhilesh Das Gupta said: "It is a moment of pride for us. We not only successfully conducted India’s first badminton league but we have even successfully identified two young champions who can make it big in the sport.”

While Siril is from Hyderabad's Glendale Academy, Kanika is from Delhi's ASN International School.