Ashwini-Sikki stun Chinese combo, in Rd 2

New Delhi, March 26 

Commonwealth Games bronze medallists Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy notched up a stunning straight-game win over world No. 18 Li Wenmei and Zheng Yu to make it to the second round in women’s doubles of the $350,000 India Open here today.

The world No. 23 Indian pair won 22-20 21-19.

In men’s doubles, Arjun MR and Shlok Ramchandran suffered a 21-16 21-18 loss to China’s Huang Kaixiang and Wang Zekang.

Indians expectedly dominated the qualifying round with eight players entering the main draw in the singles categories and 10 pairs making it in the doubles categories here today.

In men’s singles, Rahul Yadav Chittaboina, Siddharath Thakur, Kartik Jindal and Kartikey Gulshan Kumar made it to the main draw. In women’s singles, Ritika Thaker, Prashi Joshi, Riya Mookerjee, and Vaidehi Choudhari progressed.

Pranaav Jerry Chopra had an easy outing alongside Shivam Sharma in the men’s doubles qualifying round where all eight pairs were Indians.

On Wednesday, 2017 champion PV Sindhu will start her campaign against compatriot Mugdha Agrey, while 2015 winner Kidambi Srikanth meets the tricky Wong Wing Ki Vincent in the opening round. 

Momota, Lin for Asia Championships 

Wuhan: Chinese shuttlers Lin Dan, Chen Long and Shi Yuqi will play in the men’s singles, where world No. 1 Kento Momota of Japan will seek to defend his title in the 2019 Asia Badminton Championships. Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei and South Korea’s Sun Wan-Ho are also among the title favourites. Chen Yufei will represent China in the women’s singles along with teammates He Bingjiao and Han Yue. — Agencies