INDIAN MEN’S ace shuttler Parupalli Kashyap started his Korea Open campaign on a positive note by claiming wins against Chinese Taipei's Lin Yu Hsien and Kan Chao Yu to reach the main draw of the men's singles event.
Kashyap, who had finished runners-up at the US Open Grand Prix Gold, beat Hsien 21-19, 21-9 in a 35-minute match and then bundled out Taiwanese Kan Chao Yu 21-19, 21-18 in the next qualifying match. He is now set to face Chinese Taipei's Hsu Jen Hao in the main draw. And, Kashyap is known to have won thrice and suffered defeat once against Hao.
In mixed doubles, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa also advanced to the main draw after two successive wins. The duo, which showcased impressive performance at the Sudhirman Cup, beat Germany's Peter Kaesbauer and Olga Konon 21-12, 21-15 and then eked out a hard-fought 27-25, 21-17 win over Indonesia's Ronald and Annisa Saufika. They are set to face Hong Kong's Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet on September 13.
However, heartbreak was in store for Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N Sikki Reddy in the main draw of mixed doubles as their fight ended with a 21-13, 19-21, 15-21 to fourth seeded Indonesian pair of Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto.