New Delhi:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists Ashwini Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy inflicted major upset as they defeated sixth seeds and world no 18 pair of Li Wenmei and Zheng Yu 22-20, 21-19 to advance to the second round of the India Open World Tour 500, here at IGI Stadium on Tuesday.
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Since Chinese pair reached the quarter-finals of the All England Open and the semi-finals of the Swiss Open, this win came as a confidence-booster for the Indian pair.
The 23rd ranked Ponnappa and Reddy thus continue their good form a week after reaching the quarter-finals of the Swiss Open.
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Meanwhile, eight singles players and 10 doubles pairs from India progressed to the main draw as the qualifying rounds got completed on Tuesday.
Third seed Rahul Yadav Chittaboina and fourth seed Siddharath Thakur led the charge of the Indians in men’s singles while Kartik Jindal and veteran Pranaav Jerry Chopra made it through to the main draw of men’s doubles in partnership with Shivam Sharma.
