NEW DELHI: India's men's doubles pair,
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy
and
Chirag Shetty
, continued their impressive form by advancing to the quarterfinals of the
Malaysia Open Super 1000
badminton tournament in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
The duo, ranked World No. 2, - who had a stellar run in 2023 with six titles - secured a victory over France's Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar, who are ranked No.
36, with a scoreline of 21-11, 21-18. This win sets up a quarter-final clash for Satwik and Chirag against China's He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu, who are currently ranked 32nd in the world.
However,
Kidambi Srikanth
faced disappointment as he was unable to progress further. Srikanth failed to rein in his errors and went down 13-21 17-21 to Hong Kong's Ng Ka Long Angus in the second round.
Ashwini-Tanisha move a step closer to qualify for Paris Olympics
The Indian women's doubles pair of
Ashwini Ponnappa
and
Tanisha Crasto
continued their impressive performance by defeating the seventh-seeded Japanese pair of Wakana Nagahara and Mayu Matsumoto.
The Indian duo secured a thrilling victory with a scoreline of 21-19, 13-21, 21-15. This significant win not only showcases the prowess of Ponnappa and Crasto but also brings them a step closer in their quest to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Satwik-Chirag overcome French pair in fighting encounter
Satwik and Chirag, the Asian Games gold medallists, showcased an aggressive game plan, establishing an impressive 11-2 lead at the break in the opening game against the French pair of Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar.
Although the French pair managed to make a seven-point burst, closing the gap to 12-14, the Indian duo regained control, securing the remaining seven points on the trot to win the opening game.
The second game took an unexpected turn, with Corvee and Labar coming out strongly to take an 11-4 cushion at the interval. Despite being behind at 4-11, Satwik and Chirag mounted a remarkable recovery, leveling the score at 16-16.
The Indian pair continued to show resilience, and with well-executed strategies, they managed to secure three match points. Despite squandering one, they ultimately capitalised on an error from the French side, as Labar served into the net, securing the victory for the Indian duo.
The match showcased the competitive spirit and skill of both pairs, with Satwik and Chirag emerging victorious in a closely contested encounter.
Srikanth's match lasted just 38 minutes
Earlier in a men's singles match lasting 38 minutes, Srikanth faced challenges against Hong Kong's Ng Ka Long, who is ranked World No. 20 compared to India's World No. 24.
Srikanth had a promising start, taking a 6-1 lead initially. However, he struggled with unforced errors and inconsistent line judgements, allowing Ka Long to make a comeback with six straight points.
Despite Srikanth's efforts to regain control, Ka Long's confidence continued to grow, leading to another six-point burst that put him in command.
In the second game, Srikanth attempted to take more initiative and managed to hold a slender 11-10 lead with a jump cross-court smash. However, Ka Long quickly turned the tables again, taking a 14-12 lead.
Despite Srikanth's attempts to narrow the deficit to 16-18, Ka Long maintained his relentless play with precise retrievals and exquisite touches.
Ka Long eventually secured the victory, capitalising on a series of unforced errors from Srikanth. The match highlighted the challenges faced by Srikanth, especially in dealing with Ka Long's strategic and skillful play, resulting in the Indian player's defeat.
(With PTI inputs)
English (US) ·