Dominant Sindhu lifts home crowd
Sindhu is mindful that this is just the beginning and she still has a big task ahead of her. “It’s crucial to maintain the rhythm and keep giving my best. I need enough recovery after matches and be prepared for the next day.” Up next for Sindhu is Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, a player who has grown in stature in recent years. Tunjung’s 2024 highlight was a bronze medal at the Paris Games. The manner in which Sindhu returns against Tunjung could portray a more-accurate picture in regards to where she sits in her current recovery phase.
The coach and the circumstances might be a new territory, but Sindhu is well-versed when it comes to adjusting to different coaching styles. “Adjusting to different coaches with varied philosophies can be difficult, but I’ve gained a lot from each one. Now, we’re focussing more on speed and movement, as I’ve been coming back from injury. It’s important to be smart and injury-free.”
Kiran, Sat-Chi advance
Kiran George, who was included in the eleventh hour in the men’s singles main draw, now has two wins under his belt. Kiran got the better of Alex Lanier of France, who is regarded to be one of the rising shuttlers in the men’s section.
After being behind in the early stages, Kiran dug deep to frustrate Lanier before going on to win the contest 22-20, 21-13. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also displayed remarkable fighting qualities to script a three-game victory (20-22, 21-14, 21-16) over the Japanese pair of Kenya Mitushashi and Hiroki Okamura.
“The last time that we played against them, we managed to beat them in straight sets. It should have been the same scoreline this time around but like I said, a few mistakes here and there cost us the game. But the way we came back, I think we didn’t really give them a chance,” Chirag later reflected.
It was an encouraging day for Sindhu, Kiran and the combination of Satwik and Chirag but it was curtains for a few others.
Ashwini-Castro out
The pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto. They were simply no match for Japan’s Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto. Panda sisters, Rutuparna and Swetaparna, also lost their second-round women’s doubles tie.