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Sindhu, Srikanth Lead India’s Charge at the Toyota Thailand Open – Day 1 Review

By: Editor
Date: 19 Jan, 2021
Image Courtesy: GoBadminton
PV Sindhu led the Indian march from the front at the Toyota Thailand Open on the opening day of the tournament as she defeated Busanan Ongbamrungphan in straight games. Sindhu, playing the second match of the day on the second court, made sure she put aside the disappointment of the previous week behind her with a clinical performance and win.

Sindhu and Ongbamrungphan made a steady start to proceedings with both going for their shots and trying to assert an early advantage. With the score tied at 8-8, Ongbamrungphan put together a string of 5 points on the bounce and had a slight lead heading into the mid-game break. But Sindhu, then roared back into contention with some stunning shots to take the opening game at 21-17. Sindhu then pressed her advantage further with some aggressive play, and easily took the second game to book her place in the second round.

In the men’s singles match-up Srikanth Kidambi playing against Sitthikom Thammasin produced a clinical performance to win 21-11 21-11, while Sameer Verma had to come back from behind against Malaysian Lee Zii Jia. Sameer looked down for the count in the second game; and having lost the first had to pull out something special from the bag, and he actually did. 

Sameer’s brother Sourabh, however, had an eve tougher opponent in Anthony Sinsuka Ginting as he went down in 36 minutes to the Indonesian. 21-16 21-11, the score line in favor of Ginting. Also in action, Parupalli Kashyap, had to retire due to injury with the score at 0-3 in the opening game against Rasmus Gemke.

Saina Nehwal was the other Indian in action in the singles events, as she took on home-favorite Ratchanok Intanon in a highly-anticipated first round clash. Ratchanok was the aggressor right from the start, as she raced to a 5-0 lead in the opening exchanges. While Saina did well to catch up with her Thai opponent, Ratchanok managed to stay ahead most of the game. In the second game, Saina made a much better start but then Ratchanok pressed home with an easy 21-17 21-8 victory.

In doubles action, Satwik Sairaj & Ashwini Ponnappa produced a stirring performance against Danish pair Niclas Nohr and Amalie Magelund to win their first round encounter 23-21 21-18. The entire match was a see-saw affair with both teams going for their shots, and making a few mistakes in between.

Satwik Sairaj then teamed up with his men’s doubles partner to take on the experienced pair of Sumeeth Reddy & Manu Attri, in an all-Indian clash. And the pulsating encounter when in favour exuberance of youth over the experience of Sumeeth/Attri. 
Elsewhere, Tai Tzu Ying, Sung Ji Hyun, and Anders Antonsen also advanced into the second round. While, Mark Caljouw and Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk were amongst the notable players eliminated in the opening round.

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