Star Indian shutter Lakeshya Dream suffered shock defeat, but the trio of Malvika Bansod, Aakarshi Kashyap and Unnati Hooda advanced to the second round of female singles after hard fought victories in 475,000 Thailand Open Super 500 tournaments.
World No. 10 pair of Tressa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, the best rated Indians in the world, also positively began his campaign and achieved the second round with 21-15, 21-13 victories over Malaysian Ong Xy AC Ting.
The third deployed Indian combination, which returns after the missing Mishings Mishings Championship Sudirman Cup for injuries, will continue against Japanese Rui Hirokami and Sayak Hobar.
The dream, the bronze medalist of the World Championship 2021, fell on Ireland Nguyen in a tense battle of three games and lost 18-21, 21-9 and 17-21 in a men’s match that lasted an hour and 20 minutes.
After dropping from the first game, the dream found its rhythm in the second and dominated by aggressive gatherings. However, Nguyen held his nerves in a nearby decision and moved forward before the victory at 17-13.
World No. 33 Priyanshu Rajawat also made the first round when it dropped 13-21, 21-17 and 16-21 against Alwi Farhan of Indonesia.
In women’s singles, world no. 23 Malvika, the finalist at 2024 Hylo Open, excluded Turkey Neslihan Arin 21-12, 13-21, 21-17, so that the clash with the former world champion Ratchanok In INTANON, seeded seventh.
Aakarshi survived an exciting competition against Japanese Kaor Sugiyam, won 21-16, 20-22 and 22-20. It was a match of narrow edges, while the Indian held the nerves in the final stages of the referee.
Seventeen-year-old Unnati, 2022 Odisha Masters and 2023 ABU DHABI Masters, also walked into the next round and registered the brave 21-14, 18-21, 23-21 victories over Thamonwan Nithiithiittikrai in Thai.
Unnati, who reached the semifinals at the Taipei Open last week, will face the top -cut thai pornpawee Chochuwong, while Aakarshi meets the fourth seeded Katethon, also from Thailand.
But it was the end of the Rakshith Srese Santhosh Ramraj road, who lost an opener on the singles of women 18-21, 7-21 for the eighth seed of Yeo Jia min of Singapore.
Former National Champion Anupama Upiphyaya, who was also part of the Indian team Sudirman Cup, fell to the sidelines and dropped down 11-21 9-21 to the former world champion in Thailand Ratchanok Inntanon.
The ladies’ couple K. Selvam and S. Singhi and the Lord of the Lord P. Krishnamurty Roy and S. Pratheek K. also lost in the opening round of the doubles. The gold medalist of the National Games Tharun Mannepalli will face Justin Hoh from Malaysia later
Published:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
May 14, 2025
