Gayatri to face Malvika in quarters of Smt Khaitan Junior Badminton Tournament

Daughter of former All England champion, Gayatri Pullela entered quarterfinals of the 26th edition of Smt Khaitan Junior Badminton Tournament, held at Panjab University.

In the pre-quarters match, Gayatri fought hard and got by a 21-13, 19-21, 21-19 win over Kanika Kanwal of Air India in the girls’ singles match. The player spectated by her mother PVV Lakshmi, one of the champions of first edition of the Smt. Krishna Khaitan Memorial All India Junior Ranking and Prize Money Badminton Tournament in 1991.

In the 55-minute contest, though Gayatri made some unforced errors at the crucial moments and faced difficulties by Kanwal’s long range rallies, she got control over some close net shots as the match was progressing.

Gayatri will now face the sixth seeded, Malvika Bansod in the quarterfinals match; the duo previously met in the opening round of the Yonex Sunrise India Junior International Grand Prix Badminton tournament in september this year. The young and fast rising shuttlers will once again meet at the tournament  in Chandigarh. The tournament will have its finals on 19th November.