Saurabh, Manu Attri-Ashwini Ponnappa enter main draw of India SS
SAURABH VERMA AND MANU ATTRI/ASHWINI PONNAPPA duo entered the main draw after winning their respective qualification matches. However, Anand Pawar and P.C. Thulasi’s campaigns came to an end as they lost their fights on Day 1.
Verma registered a stunning victory over his fellow countrymen RMV Gurusaidutt by 21-18, 21-10 in the Men’s Singles Round 1. He continued his winning spree in the next round and defeated Japan’s Kenichi Tago by 21-18, 21-12 to reach the main draw.
In another match, Rituparna Das outplayed P.C. Thulasi 21-19, 21-16 in a nail-biting contest of Women’s Singles. Thulasi started the match with her impressive shots. However, she lost the ground in next moment to dominating game by Rituparna. In the Round 2, Rituparna defeated Riya Pillai by 21-10, 21-7 with an ease to reach Round of 32.
In Mixed Doubles, Manu-Attri-Ashwini Ponnappa thumped down Saurav Agarwal-Sraddha Tiwari by 21-4, 21-8 in the Round 1 and got a bye in the Round 2.
The biggest upset of the day was the defeat of Anand Pawar in another Men’s Singles, who lost Round 2 match against Indonesian Sony Dwi Kuncoro by 12-21, 21-18, 15-21. Anand came back strongly in the second set but failed to continue his momentum in the third set and eventually lost to Kuncoro.
