Singapore Open Qualifers | Parupalli Kashyap, Mugdha Agrey advance to main round
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India started their Singapore Open campaign on a positive note as both Parupalli Kashyap and Mugdha Agrey won their respective matches against Yu Igarashi and Lauren Lam respectively. Men’s doubles duo Balasubramannian Narendran Geetha and Raphael Sharon was eliminated in straight games.
Parupalli Kashyap started off the tournament on Tuesday with his first clash being against Malaysia’s Cheam June Wei. While the Indian was expected to have an easy sail, and he started in a similar manner by winning the first 21-5, the Malaysian stunned him by levelling it in the second game 21-14. However, Kashyap made a timely comeback to win the third game 21-17.
His next opponent was a tricky one as it was against Japan’s Yu Igarashi. And he was clearly struggling in the opening game before he lost it 21-15. After reaching the semis of the India Open, Kashyap was looking at a very exit in the Super 500 series tournament. But, he made a stunning comeback by winning the second game 21-16 before stretching the decider and winning it 22-20. He will be facing Rasmus Gemke in the first round.
Unlike Kashyap, Mugdha Agrey had to play just one qualifier match but playing against USA’s Lauren Lam wasn’t simple either. And it was evident in the very first game that the American won 21-16 with Agrey struggling to find any holding whatsoever. However, the 19-year-old got her mojo back thereafter as she won the next two games 21-14, 21-15. She will be facing Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong, who had ousted Saina Nehwal in Malaysia Open.
However, all wasn’t positive at the Indian camp as men’s doubles duo of
