Did Satwik and Chirag Make It to the Second Round at the Australian Open?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Satwik and Chirag progressed to the second round of the Australian Open.
- They overcame a challenging start against their Taiwanese opponents.
- India's women's doubles team faced a tough match, leading to their early exit.
- Other Indian singles players are poised to begin their campaigns.
- Continued support for Indian badminton is essential for future success.
Sydney, Nov 18 (NationPress) The Indian men's doubles team consisting of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty successfully advanced to the second round of the Australian Open, a prestigious event on the BWF World Tour Super 500, at Sydney Olympic Park this Tuesday.
The Indian pair triumphed over the Taiwanese duo of Chang Ko-chi and Po Li-Wei with a score of 25-23, 21-16 in a match lasting 48 minutes. They are now set to face Su Ching Heng and Wu Guan Xun, another team from Chinese Taipei, in the next round.
Currently ranked third in the world, Rankireddy and Shetty came into this match following consecutive finals appearances at the Hong Kong Super 500 and China Masters Super 750. Despite starting with a deficit of 2–6 against their Taiwanese opponents in their first encounter, the Indians managed a comeback, leading 19–17 at one point. The first game was highly competitive, with both teams exchanging game points. An expertly placed net shot gave the Indians an opportunity to clinch the game, but the Taiwanese countered with a powerful smash. After a series of nail-biting points, the Indians finally took the game when their opponents faltered at the net.
Switching sides, Satwik and Chirag took an early lead of 7–4, although a few net errors by the Indians along with a solid smash from the Taiwanese leveled the game. The points were closely contested until the Indians managed to gain a slight advantage at halftime after a long smash from the Taiwanese. They maintained pressure throughout, extending their lead to 18–15 and finishing the match with two well-executed smashes, showcasing their composure.
On the other hand, the women’s doubles team of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, seeded fourth, faced an early exit. They lost to Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Meilysa Trias Puspitasari with scores of 21–10, 21–14 in 40 minutes. This match marked the Indian duo’s return after a hiatus of three and a half months, during which they struggled to keep pace with the Indonesians' speed and accuracy.
Additionally, India’s singles players, including Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, and Ayush Shetty, will kick off their campaigns on Wednesday, hopeful for significant progress in the tournament.