Harpal Singh Bedi / New Delhi
Former champions PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy chalked out contrasting wins to move into the second round of the Yonex-Sunrise India Open Badminton here on Wednesday.
Sameer Verma, Sai Praneeth and Riya Mookerjee joined them in Round 2 on a day which saw 7 singles shuttlers and 6 doubles pairs keeping the Indian hopes alive.
2017 champion Sindhu was off to a superb start with a comprehensive 21-8, 21-13 win over World No. 71 Mugdha Agrey.
The second seed did not have to exert herself much, building a 13-7 lead in the first game. With her powerful smashes the fancied Indian wrapped it up in just 23 minutes.
In the men’s section 2015 winner Srikanth had to wage a grim battle as he trailed 12-17 in the third game against his 2018 Asian Games conqueror, Wong Wing Ki Vincent. The Indian however fought brilliantly to notch up a 21-16, 18-21, 21-19 win in 56 minutes.
“It’s my first time here and I think there is a lot of drift. After losing the lead in the second game, I thought I should not make a single mistake,” said Srikanth, adding, “This is the 6th or 7th time I was playing Wong after the Asian Games. It is tough to play the same opponent many times, but I am happy.”
HS Prannoy announced his return to form with a gritty 14-21, 21-18, 21-14 comeback win over World No. 17 Kantaphon Wangcharoen. The 68-minute marathon was a proof that the former national champion is very much on his way back after his recent battles with gastro-esophageal reflux disease.
“I have been consulting doctors in the United States,” said Prannoy after the match. “I can say it has helped me stand in the court right now. Probably 80% of the things have fallen in place. There are areas I have to focus on like the diet plan that has been given to me. I should be much better comparatively in the next 4-5 months,” he hoped.
World No. 15 Sameer Verma overcame an early resistance from the 29th ranked Rasmus Gemke before recording a 21-18, 21-12 win. Swiss Open runner-up Sai Praneeth stormed back from a game down to edge Kartikey Gulshan Kumar 22-24, 21-13, 21-8 in 59 minutes. World No. 92 Riya Mookerjee, a quarter-finalist at the Swiss Open, recorded a 21-17, 21-15 win over the 86th ranked Phittayaporn Chaiwan in a mini upset.
44th ranked Subhankar Dey caused a huge upset by knocking out the fourth seed and World No. 9 Tommy Sugiarto 14-21 22-20 21-11.
Former champions Ratchanok Intanon and Li Xuerui made a good start to their respective campaigns. The fourth seeded Intanon, who is eyeing a third title at this prestigious event, comfortably beat Sai Uttejitha Rao Chukka 21-9, 21-6. London Olympic gold medallist Xuerui, winner of this tournament in 2012, overcame a tough opponent in Nitchaon Jindapol 21-17, 21-11. .
Third seed He Bingjiao needed 30 minutes to dismiss Prashi Joshi 21-12, 21-15 and was joined by her compatriot Chen Xiaoxin following her 21-15, 21-11 victory over Yulia Yosephin Susanto.
In doubles, sixth seeds Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy blew away younger countrymen Ravi and Lakshay Saroha 21-14, 21-7. Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Shivam Sharma, who qualified for the main draw, made short work of Senthil Vel Govindarasu and Vembarasan Venkatachalam 21-13, 21-13.
In women’s doubles, the pairs of Pooja Dandu-Sanjana Santosh and Venkata Ramya Tulasi Bailupudi-Shivani Santosh Singh made it through Round two.