Indian shuttlers began on a positive note at the Macau Open. Tharun Mannepalli, Isharani Baruah, Ashmita Chaliha, Anmol Kharb, Rounak Chouhan, Shriyanshi Valishetty, Rakshitha Sree and mixed doubles pair Ishaan Bhatnagar/Shruti Mishra advanced to the Round of 16.
Unseeded Ashmita Chaliha defeated sixth seed Tung Ciou-Tong of Taipei. Ashmita won the first game at 21-14 and was leading 11-6 in the second game when the Chinese Taipei girl retired hurt.
Tharun came from a game behind to pip fellow Indian Rithvik Sanjeevi Satish Kumar. Tharun lost the first game at 15-21 but pulled up his socks on time. Tharun took the second game at 21-17 to force the match into the third game. In the decider, Tharun brooked no challenge as he carved out a 21-14 win.
Seventh seed Shriyanshi Valishetty too had a tough battle on her hand against fellow Indian Tasnim Mir before squeeze to victory in three games. Shriyanshi had a rousing start as she took the first game at 21-18. However, Tasnim came back strongly to win the second game at 21-19. In the decider, Shriyanshi tightened up her game to win it 21-15 and move to the next round.
Rounak Chouhan too had to wage a three-game battle against Wu Zhe Ying of Chinese Taipei before posting a 18-21, 21-15, 21-19 win.
Fifth seed Isharani Baruah too took three games to overcome Chinese Taipei’s Hung Yi-Ting. The Indian shuttler won 21-16, 19-21, 21-14.
Select India results: Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj beat Kisona Selvaduray (MAS) 21-16, 24-22; Ishaan Bhatnagar/Shruti Mishra beat Calvin Devereux/Desiree Toepffer (GER) 21-4, 21-6; 7-Shriyanshi Valishetty beat Tasnim Mir 21-18, 19-21, 21-15; Rounak Chouhan beat Wu Zhe Ying (TPE) 18-21, 21-15, 21-19; 8-Anmol Kharb beat Mutiara Ayu Puspitasari (INA) 21-13, 21-16; Ashmita Chaliha beat 6-Tung Ciou-Tong (TPE) 21-14, 11-6 (retd); 5-Isharani Baruah beat Hung Yi-Ting (TPE) 21-16, 19-21, 21-14; Tharun Mannepalli beat Rithvik Sanjeevi Satish Kumar 15-21, 21-17, 21-14.
