Canada Open Grand Prix/ US open Grand Prix Gold- June/July 16

[Varma]

Apparently K.Srikanth is the top seed here! He had a bye in R1, but today's schedule shows that he gave a walk-over to Misha Zilberman? Hope he is not injured as Rio draws closer.

Same with our Mxd pair of Manu Attri/Ashwini Ponnappa who seem to have given a walk-over to the Candian pair of Dong Adam/Qingzi Quyang.

- Varma

[sameerph]

I don't think there is any injury to Srikanth. He was in Delhi a couple of a days back when all the Rio bound athletes were given a reception by PM Modi. So, it seems he never travelled to US.

In badminton draws are made about a month in advance and it seems usual for players to withdraw after the draw is made. Not sure why they are not replaced by lucky losers as in tennis.

[sameerph]

Yesterday's results-

[R2] (5) H. S. Prannoy (IND,28) d. Joshua MAGEE (IRL,237) 21-9 21-8
[R2] Pratul JOSHI (IND,191) d. Milan LUDIK (CZE,72) 21-18 21-13
[R2] R. M. V. Gurusaidutt (IND,108) l. Kazumasa SAKAI (JPN,77) 17-21 12-21
[R2] (4) Ajay JAYARAM (IND,24) d. Raul MUST (EST,38) 21-14 21-9
[R2] Anand PAWAR (IND,86) d. David OBERNOSTERER (AUT,68) 21-12 21-9
[R2] (6) B. Sai Praneeth (IND,37) d. B. R. Sankeerth (CAN,294) 21-15 21-7

[R2] GADDE Ruthvika Shivani (IND,110) l. Ayumi MINE (JPN,87) 19-21 21-15 18-21
[R2] Tanvi LAD (IND,79) d. Nikte Alejandra SOTOMAYOR (GUA,199) 21-6 21-9

So, except Guru and Shivani everyone else won their matches.

[sameerph]

These are today's singles match-ups -

[PQF] (5) H. S. Prannoy (IND,28) d. LEE Hyun Il (KOR,44)
[PQF] Pratul JOSHI (IND,191) vs. Anand PAWAR (IND,86)
[PQF] (4) Ajay JAYARAM (IND,24) vs. Pedro MARTINS (POR,65)
[PQF] (6) B. Sai Praneeth (IND,37) vs. Kazumasa SAKAI (JPN,77)

[PQF] Tanvi LAD (IND,79) d. (5) Beiwen ZHANG (USA,33)

[sameerph]

Disappointing performance today in US as only Ajay won against a non- Indian player.

[PQF] (5) H. S. Prannoy (IND,28) l. LEE Hyun Il (KOR,44) 23-25 21-23
[PQF] Anand PAWAR (IND,86) d. Pratul JOSHI (IND,191) 21-10 21-13
[PQF] (4) Ajay JAYARAM (IND,24) d. Pedro MARTINS (POR,65) 21-11 21-15
[PQF] (6) B. Sai Praneeth (IND,37) l. Kazumasa SAKAI (JPN,77) 21-13 17-21 20-22

[PQF] Tanvi LAD (IND,79) l. (5) Beiwen ZHANG (USA,33) 17-21 15-21

Sai Praneeth had 3 match points at 20-17 in the third game but lost 5 straight points. Another case of mental breakdown by Indian players ? We are seeing this too often in case of Indian players in badminton and tennis.

[QF] (4) Ajay JAYARAM (IND,24) vs. Anand PAWAR (IND,86)

So, an Indian semi finalists is ensured. Also our second seeded mens doubles pair of Manu Atri/Sumeeth Reddy and womens doubles pair of Meghna/ Poorvisha Ram have made the QF.

[sameerph]

Ajay easily won against Anand.

[QF] (4) Ajay JAYARAM (IND,24) d. Anand PAWAR (IND,86) 21-11 21-11

Both our doubles pairs lost their matches. Second seeded pair of Manu Atri and Sumeeth Reddy got upset by a Japanese pair in 3 games after winning the first game.

So, next,

[SF] (4) Ajay JAYARAM (IND,24) vs. Kanta TSUNEYAMA (JPN,61)

[Varma]

A tame loss in 33 minutes for Ajay against 20 yr old Japanese, Kanta Tsuneyama, ranked 61.

Ajay Jayaram (4) l. Kanta Tsuneyama 10-21, 14-21

That ends the Indian Challenge, and my hopes of going to see Ajay lift the trophy tomorrow

- Varma