Saina, Sindhu and Kashyap advance
ODENSE: Top India shuttlers Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu cleared the first round hurdles in the women’s singles by posting contrasting victories over their respective opponents in the Denmark Open Super Series Badminton Premier here on Wednesday.
In the men’s singles, Parupalli Kashyap beat Rajiv Ouseph of England 21-15, 21-18 to enter the second round.
While Saina had to stretch herself for a 12-21, 21-10, 21-12 win over Karin Schnaase of Germany in a match that lasted 49 minutes, Sindhu took 39 minutes to get the better of Hong Kong’s Pui Yin Yip 21-13, 22-20.
Earlier, Ashwini Ponnappa, who paired up with Russia’s Vladimir Ivanov in the mixed doubles event, was knocked out with a 18-21, 18-21 defeat against Hong Kong’s Yun Lung Chan and Ying Suet Tse.
MYNENI SHOCKS COPPEJANS
INDORE: A day after being felicitated by Prime Minister Games exploits, India’s Saketh Myneni toppled Belgian seventh seed Kimmer Coppejans to move to the quarterfinals of the ATP Indore Open.
Myneni, who is ranked 451, overcame the 202-ranked Belgian 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) in the $50,000 Challenger event.
The big-serving Myneni next faces his Asian Games silver medal winning partner Sanam Singh, who scored a hard-fought 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 win over compatriot and qualifier N Vijay Sundar Prashant.
In the doubles first round, Somdev Devvarman combined with left-hander Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan to upset Thai top seeds Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana 4-6, 6-4, 10-7.
NSFS, IOA TOLD TO PLACE INFO ON WEBSITES
NEW DELHI: With only three National Sports Federations (NSFS) having so far followed government instructions, the Sports Ministry on Wednesday reminded the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and several other NSFS to place their audited annual accounts and balance sheets on their website All India Chess Federation (AICF) and All India Football Federation (AIFF) have provided the information according to Ministry officials.
The Ministry issued a third communication in this regard to IOA and NSFS and warned that a failure would result in stoppage of financial assistance and nonrenewal of recognition.
135-STRONG CONTINGENT FOR PARA ASIAN GAMES NEW DELHI: The Sports Ministry, on Wednesday, cleared a contingent of 135 persons, including 87 athletes, for the Para-asian Games, beginning in Incheon, South Korea, from Saturday. “The contingent also includes three guide runners, 40 coaches and escorts and five officials,” a ministry press release stated.
SUSHIL KUMAR, SIX OTHERS TO TRAIN IN US NEW DELHI: Ace Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar and six other national athletes will be heading for the US in the first week of November to train in the Ohio-based SPIRE Institute, an official Olympic Training Center through a Sheru Classic