Yonex Thailand Open: Indian challenge ends with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Ashwini Ponnappa’s loss

Yonex Thailand Open: Indian challenge ends with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Ashwini Ponnappa’s loss

Ashwini Ponnappa and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy

Ashwini Ponnappa, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy
Ashwini Ponnappa and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy

The mixed doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa were the last Indian contenders left in the ongoing Yonex Thailand Open. With their loss to Hong Kong’s Chang Tak Ching and NG Wing Yung, the curtains have been drawn on the Indian challenge in the tournament.

Earlier on Thursday, Saina Nehwal and the Indian duo of Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy bit the dust in their respective matches. Ace shuttler Kidambi Srikanth pulled out of the contest owing to a calf muscle strain. All eyes were on the mixed doubles pair to carry forward the Indian flag in the tournament.

Couldn’t produce the magic of opening day

Ashwini Ponnappa, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy
Ashwini Ponnappa and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy

The Indian mixed doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy had pleasantly surprised everyone with their scintillating performance in their opening fixture.

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The world no. 36 duo produced an upset as they beat world no. 8 ranked Hafiz Faizal and Gloria Widjaja of Indonesia in a nerve-racking match. However, the Indian duo couldn’t produce a similar magic in their next round with Hong Kong’s Chang Tak Ching and NG Wing Yung.

They bowed out of the tournament following a straight-games loss against the Hong Kong pair. The scores were 12-21, 17-21. All the Indian shuttlers will be hoping for a better show at the Toyota Thailand Open Super 1000 event that gets underway next week.

Also Read: Yonex Thailand Open: A disappointing day 3 for Indian shuttlers on court