Gupta, Ratti qualify for Swedish Open main draw

Bangalore, March 4: Promising youngsters Abhinn Shyam Gupta and Sachin Ratti qualified for the main draw in the men's singles section of ...

Bangalore, March 4: Promising youngsters Abhinn Shyam Gupta and Sachin Ratti qualified for the main draw in the men’s singles section of the Swedish Open badminton tournament which began at Borlange on Wednesday.

According to a Badminton Association of India press release here on Thursday, Abhinn, who is playing a long lay-off scored a straight game victories over Johan Holm, Simon Knuttson and Henrik all from the host country in the qualifying tournament.

Sachin too had a comfortable passage into the main draw with wins against Swedish rivals Frederik du Hann, Andreas Ehn and Marcus Jansson.

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Abhinn now plays Germany’s National champion Oliver Pongratz in the first round, while Ratti takes on Daniel Erickson of Sweden. The third member of the Indian contingent Nihkil Kanetkar, who has a direct entry into the tournament was scheduled to play Alvaraad of Lithuania in the first round.

Manjusha bows out

In the women’s singles qualifying round, Manjusha Kanwar of India went down fighting toChinese Su Jian 5-11, 10-13. National champion Aparna Popat was scheduled to play Johanna Holgersson of Sweden in the first round of the main draw.

Jaseel P Ismail and Vincent Lobo play Swedish pair Fedrik and Henriek in the men’s doubles first round.