In badminton, India’s mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto have stormed into the pre-quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships in New Delhi. The 15th-seeded Indian pair made light work of Macau’s Leong Iok Chong and Ng Weng Chi, registering a comfortable straight-game victory, 21-11, 21-11, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. The Indian duo will next face the sixth-seeded Chinese pair of Chen Fang Hui and Guo Xin Wa in the pre-quarterfinals.
Home favourites Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have also advanced to the pre-quarterfinals after receiving a walkover. The fifth-seeded Indian pair were originally scheduled to face Scotland’s Alexander Dunn and Adam Pringle in the Round of 32.
More action awaits at the tournament later today, with India’s ace shuttlers Lakshya Sen, P V Sindhu, Ayush Shetty and others set to take the court in their respective Round of 32 encounters. In men’s singles, Lakshya Sen will take on USA’s Garrett Tan, while 21-year-old Ayush Shetty will face Sri Lanka’s Dumindu Abeywickrama. Shetty has already produced one of the biggest upsets of the championship, stunning world number one and defending champion Shi Yu Qi of China in a thrilling opening-round encounter.
In women’s singles, two-time Olympic medallist and former world champion Sindhu will face Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang in the Round of 32. While her compatriot Unnati Hooda, will take on a challenging assignment against the 13th seed Michelle Li of Canada.Meanwhile in men’s doubles, Hariharan Amsakarunan and M R Arjun will continue India’s challenge when they take on South Korea’s Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju in their Round of 32 encounter.
