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The Indian contingent started off their campaign on a winning note at the $65, 000 Yonex Dutch Open 2017 with two mixed doubles pairs entering the main draw of this Grand Prix tournament at Almere, Netherlands on Tuesday. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa needed just 34 minutes to get the better of the Swedish combine of Richard Eidestedt and Clara Nistad, 21-17, 21-12.
They take on the seventh seeds Robin Tabeling and Cheryl Seinen of Netherlands in the first round of the main draw.
Manu Attri and K Maneesha were equally impressive in their 21-15, 21-7 win over the Dutch duo of Jasper Koppen and Judith Van Cruchten in the qualifiers.
Compared to Ponnappa and Rankireddy, they have an easier assignment up next as they face fellow qualifiers Freek Golinski and Lise Jaques of Belgium.
Quite a few of India’s top shuttlers, including two-time champion Ajay Jayaram, have pulled out of this event ahead of the Denmark Superseries Premier next week. Nonetheless, the country will be represented by a talented young brigade.
Recently-crowned All India Senior Ranking champion Pratul Joshi has a tough task in his opener with his opponent being the top seed and World No. 10 Tzu Wei Wang of Chinese Taipei.
World No. 74 Subhankar Dey is the only seeded Indian in the men’s singles draw and begins his quest against a qualifier. Others in the draw are Rahul Yadav Chittaboina, Karan Rajan Rajarajan and Sahil Sipani.
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Ruthvika on course for a meeting with top seed
South Asian Games gold medallist Ruthvika Shivani Gadde leads the Indian challenge in women’s singles. Ruthvika needs to be at her best for she is on course for a second round showdown with the top seed Beiwen Zhang.
Reshma Karthik and Sri Krishna Priya Kudaravalli are the other two Indians in the women’s singles draw. The latter has a tough opening round opponent in the form of fifth seed Natalia Koch Rohde.
In men’s doubles, Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy are seeded seventh. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will begin their campaign against the fifth seeds Liao Min Chun and Cheng Heng Su.
India’s only team in women’s doubles is that of Arathi Sara Sunil and K Maneesha.
