PV Sindhu Advances At Arctic Open, Mannepalli, Chouhan Shine In India’s Mixed Day

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu began her Arctic Open campaign in impressive fashion, while Tharun Mannepalli and Rounak Chouhan earned their places in the men’s singles main draw at the USD 500,000 Super 500 tournament in Vantaa, Finland, on Tuesday.

The former world champion needed just 28 minutes to dispatch Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang 21-8, 21-11 and book her place in the women’s singles second round. Sindhu, who won the Japan Open in July, controlled the contest from the outset and never allowed her Canadian opponent to settle.

The 31-year-old Indian will next face either Chinese Taipei’s Lin Hsiang Ti or Japan’s Riko Gunji.

Sindhu’s victory comes after a disappointing Asian Games campaign, where she bowed out in the quarterfinals without a medal.

India’s women’s singles challenge also saw some close battles. Unnati Hooda, who had reached the Asian Games quarterfinals, fought hard against China’s Han Qian Xi before losing 16-21, 21-15, 22-24.

Ashmita Chaliha also came agonisingly close to progressing, going down 7-21, 21-14, 24-26 to seventh seed Line Christophersen of Denmark.

Malvika Bansod first defeated Taiwan’s Sung Shuo Yun 21-15, 14-21, 21-14 to enter the main draw, but her campaign ended in the round of 32 after a 18-21, 13-21 defeat to Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour.

In qualifying, Mannepalli produced one of India’s biggest wins of the day, defeating second seed Julien Carraggi of Belgium 21-12, 19-21, 21-13. He will face Denmark’s Magnus Johannesen in the main draw.

Chouhan also fought back to beat Israel’s Daniil Dubovenko 18-21, 21-17, 21-19 and will next meet China’s Weng Hong Yang.

India’s mixed fortunes continued as Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj, Achutaditya Rao Doddavarapu, Pochana Arjun Reddy, Ishaan Bhatnagar and Shruti Mishra suffered defeats.