How Did Prannoy, Ayush, and Tharun Fare in the Second Round at the Australian Open Super 500?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Prannoy displayed resilience by coming back after an early setback.
- Ayush Shetty proved his rising status with a convincing win.
- Tharun Mannepalli showcased composure in a thrilling match.
- All three players have advanced to the second round, demonstrating India's growing presence in badminton.
- Upcoming matches feature India's top talents, promising more excitement.
Sydney, Nov 19 (NationPress) Indian badminton players displayed remarkable determination at the USD 475,000 Australian Open Super 500 on Wednesday, with H.S. Prannoy, Ayush Shetty, and Tharun Mannepalli battling through challenging first-round encounters to advance to the men’s singles second round.
Prannoy, back at a venue where he was the runner-up in 2023, faced early adversity. The 33-year-old struggled in the initial game, conceding it 6-21 to world No. 85 Yohanes Saut Marcellyno.
However, the Asian Games bronze medallist regained his composure, fortifying his defense and mastering the rallies to clinch the next two games 21-12, 21-17 in a match lasting 57 minutes. He is now set to challenge Indonesia’s eighth seed Alwi Farhan.
Ayush Shetty continued to rise in the BWF Tour rankings, showcasing why he is regarded as one of India’s most promising young players. The world No. 32, who recently celebrated his first Super 300 victory at the US Open this year, triumphed over Canada’s Sam Yuan with a score of 21-11, 21-15 in a swift 33 minutes.
The 20-year-old from Karnataka, a bronze medallist at the 2023 World Junior Championships, is now waiting for the outcome of the match between fourth seed Kodai Naraoka and Xiaodong Sheng.
India also celebrated Tharun Mannepalli, who maintained his cool in a thrilling 66-minute encounter against Denmark’s Magnus Johannesen. The Macau Open semifinalist exhibited impressive composure during the tense finale, claiming victory 21-13, 17-21, 21-19. The 2023 National Games gold medallist now faces a daunting task against fifth seed Lin Chun-Yi from China Taipei.
Kiran George nearly extended the Indian representation but ultimately fell short, losing 21-11, 22-24, 17-21 to Japan’s sixth seed Kenta Nishimoto, who arrived high on confidence following a victory over Lakshya Sen in the Japan Masters final last week.
Later that day, India’s top players Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth will commence their campaigns, seeking to build on this promising start.