Macau Open 2016

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London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal will lead India’s charge in the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament which begins here tomorrow after three-time champion P V Sindhu pulled out of the event to prepare herself for the Dubai Super Series Finals.

The Rio Olympics silver medallist, Sindhu, who is the defending champion here, was originally scheduled to take on China’s Yue Han in the opening match of the tournament on Wednesday.

But Sindhu, seeded second, has withdrawn from the USD 120,000 event at the last moment keeping in mind the Dubai Super Series Finals as she wanted to be fresh after playing back-to-back tournaments — China Open and Hong Kong Open.

“She had originally planned to play at Macau Open but after she qualified for Dubai Super Series Finals, we have decided to skip the event as otherwise she will get not enough time to prepare for the Dubai event,” Sindhu’s father P V Ramana told PTI.

“Winning or losing is not important but at least she should prepare well to compete in such a high-level tournament,” he added.

The Dubai Superseries final will be played from December 14-18 where only the world’s top eight players make the cut.

Sindhu had recently clinched her maiden Super Series Premier title at China Open and then reached the finals at the Hong Kong Super series in the last two weeks.

In Sindhu’s absence, compatriot and top seed Saina, who is slowly and steadily getting back her bearing after recovering from a serious knee injury which affected her Olympic campaign three months back, will spearhead India’s campaign in the women’s singles event.

After undergoing a knee surgery in August, followed by a rigorous rehabilitation and training under the watchful eyes of her coach Vimal Kumar, Saina made a comeback at China Open but lost in the opening round. She competed at the Hong Kong Open before losing closely in the quarterfinals.

The former World No. 1 Indian, who will take on Indonesia’s Hanna Ramadini in the opening round, will be eager to add this title to her name to boost her confidence ahead of the new season.

In the men’s singles, national Champion Sameer Verma, who hogged the limelight after reaching the finals at Hong Kong last Sunday, will also hope for another steller performance when he opens his campaign against Czech Milan Ludik.

It would be a sort of comeback for Commonwealth Games P Kashyap, who had taken a break after the Denmark Open.

“After Dutch Open I was not feeling that fit and though I played Denmark, I decided to take a break to get back my full fitness and make some changes to my game. So I got around 4-5 weeks and I worked hard with Gopi, so looking forward for a good week ahead,” Kashyap told PTI.

If Kashyap surpasses Malaysia’s Guo Zheng Sim, he is likely to take on compatriot and seventh seed H S Prannoy, who will open his campaign against Chinese Taipei’s Chun-Wei Chen. Third seed Srikanth got a bye in the opening round, while B Sai Praneeth will face local shuttler Lam Hou Him.

Among others, third seeds Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy will face Hong Kong’s Chan Alan Yun Lung and Li Kuen Hon in men’s doubles, while Jwala Gutta will start her new partnership with Manu Attri, taking on Indonesian pair of Satrya Aditha and Aprilsasi Putri Lejarsar Variella in the mixed doubles.

PV Sindhu pulls out, Saina Nehwal to lead India in Macau Open | The Indian Express

 

[Pugazhbalaji]

Saina need match practice

 

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Saina Nehwal secures hard-fought victory over Hanna Ramadini to enter Macau Open 2nd round

Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal on Wednesday fought hard to defeat Indonesia`s
Hanna Ramadini and enter the second round in the women`s singles event of the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament.

Saina defeated World No. 44 Hanna 21-23, 21-14, 21-18 in a match that lasted more than an hour. She will take on Dinar Dyah Ayustine in the second round.

Earlier in the day, Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap reached the pre-quarterfinals of the men`s singles event, but it was curtains for Hong Kong Super Series finalist Sameer Verma.30-year-old Kashyap, who hails from Hyderabad, registered a comfortable 21-19, 21-8 win over Wei Chen in a one-sided second-round clash that lasted about 30 minutes.

On the other hand, Verma went down 18-21, 13-21 against Indonesia`s Muhammad Bayu Pangisthu.

Saina Nehwal secures hard-fought victory over Hanna Ramadini to enter Macau Open 2nd round | Zee News

 

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Saina Nehwal, P Kashyap, B Sai Praneeth reach pre-quarters at Macau Open

Top seed Saina Nehwal staved off a tough challenge from little-known Indonesian Hanna Ramadini in a three-game women’s singles opening round match to advance to the pre-quarterfinals of the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament on Wednesday.

It turned out to be a good day for Indians as Saina, P Kashyap and B Sai Praneeth and men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Summeth Reddy made it to the pre-quarterfinals even as it was curtains for Hong Kong Super Series finalist Sameer Verma at the USD 120,000 event.

Former World No. 1 Saina saw off World No. 44 Ramadini 21-23 21-14 21-18 in the opening match that lasted for over an hour. She will next take on another Indonesian Dinar Dyah Ayustine next.

On a comeback trail, Commonwealth Games champion P Kashyap, who recovered from multiple injuries and then took a break after the Denmark Open to work on his fitness and game, defeated Chinese Taipei’s Chun-Wei Chen 21-19 21-8. He will take on Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu Hsien in the next round.

Young Sameer, who had an exceptional campaign at Hong Kong last week, failed to break the defence of Muhammad Bayu Pangisthu of Indonesia and lost 18-21 13-21 to bow out of the tournament.

B Sai Praneeth disposed off China’s Sun Feixiang 21-12 21-15 to set up a match against fifth seed Wong Wing Ki Vincent of Hong Kong.

Third seeded men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy saw off Hong Kong’s Chan Alan Yun Lung and Li Kuen Hon 21-11 17-21 21-9. They will take on Singapore’s Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Hendra Wijaya.

Kashyap, who is back on the circuit after over a month, led 5-0 early on and then entered the lemon break at 11-7.

However, Chun-Wei led a strong challenge and turned the tables with an eight-point burst. The Indian then slowly and steadily made his way back to reach 16-19 before sealing the opening game with five straight points.

In the second game, Kashyap was very dominant as he broke off as early as 5-5 and never looked back as Chun-Wei crumbled under pressure.

Yesterday, H S Prannoy retired midway in the opening round match after suffering a back injury.

Saina Nehwal, P Kashyap, B Sai Praneeth reach pre-quarters at Macau Open | The Indian Express

 

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Saina Nehwal wins, P Kashyap and Manu Attri-Sumeeth Reddy lose in Macau Open

Top seed Saina Nehwal rallied to register another narrow victory over Indonesia’s Dinar Dyah Ayustine to reach the quarter-finals of the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament.

Former World No. 1 Saina bounced back from a game down to see off Ayustine 17-21 21-18 21-12 in a match which lasted over an hour in the women’s singles competition.

London Olympics bronze medallist, Saina will next take on China’s Zhang Yiman.

However, it was curtains for P Kashyap and men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy.

Kashyap, who is on a comeback trail, put up a gallant fight before losing 13-21 20-22 to Lin Yu Hsien of Chinese Taipei in a 45-minute duel.

Third seeds Manu and Sumeeth also fought hard before going down 20-22 19-21 to Singapore’s Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Hendra Wijaya.

In the women’s singles match, Saina blew a 11-7 lead in the opening game to see Ayustine move ahead and pocket the game. However, a determined Saina dished out a more dominating performance in the second game as she zoomed to a 11-3 lead at the break.

Ayustine slowly and steadily bridged the gap after interval and drew parity at 18-18 but the Indian ensured there was no hiccup as she bounced back into the contest.

In the decider, it was the Indonesian shuttler who held a slender 4-2 lead early on but Saina turned the tables at 5-5 and moved ahead, opening up a 11-8 lead at the interval.

Saina then reeled off four points to extend the lead and eventually sealed the match with another four-point burst.

Meanwhile, B Sai Praneeth entered the quarterfinals of the men’s singles after getting the better of Wong Wing Ki Vincent 21-15 21-17.

Praneeth took just 43 minutes to down fifth seed shuttler from Hong Kong.

The Indian will next take on Zhao Jun Peng of China.

Saina Nehwal wins, P Kashyap and Manu Attri-Sumeeth Reddy lose in Macau Open | The Indian Express

 

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Saina, Sai crash out; India’s challenge ends in Macau Open

Top seed Saina Nehwal and B. Sai Praneeth crashed out in their respective quarterfinal matches to draw curtains on India’s challenge at the the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament, here on Friday.

Both Saina and Sai Praneeth suffered straight-game losses against Chinese opponents in the women’s and men’s singles quarterfinals respectively.

Former World No.1 Saina, who is slowly trying to come back to her best after recovering from a major knee injury, found the going tough on Friday, going down 17-21 17-21 lower-ranked Zhang Yiman of China in the women’s singles quarterfinal in a 35-minute clash.

Later in the day Sai Praneeth toiled hard for half an hour before losing 19-21 9-21 to Jun Peng Zhao.

Saina, who improved a place on Thursday in the world rankings to be at number 10, seemed to have been affected by the gruelling three-game matches that she played in the last two rounds here.

19-year-old Zhang, who is ranked at World No. 226, took the early 4-2 lead and then held a slender 9-8 at one stage.

The young Chinese soon reeled off five straight points to jump to a 14-8 lead and kept marching ahead as Saina lost the opening game.

Saina, who had bounced back after losing the opening game in the last two matches, seemed to have changed gears as she zoomed to a 6-0 healthy lead in the second game. But Zhang came back to level the score 7-7 and surpassed her fancied rival, reaching 11-9 at the break.

Saina erased the deficit after the interval with two points but the Chinese managed to grab a 14-12 advantage and then jumped to 19-12 lead. The Indian picked up four points to narrow the gap but Zhang soon surged to seal the game and the match in her favour.

Saina Nehwal, B. Sai Praneeth crash out; India’s challenge ends in Macau Open - The Hindu