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Journalism of Courage
Kuala Lumpur, Sept 16: Aparna Popat lead the Indian challenge in the badminton women’s singles preliminaries into the third round with a 11-1, 11-1 rout of Samoa’s A Wilson today. Manjusha Kanwar, PVV Laxmi and Neelima Choudhary also joined Popat in the third round with contrasting wins after all got first-round byes.
Playing her first singles here, PVV Laxmi eased past Fijian G Agnes 11-3, 11-2, Chaudhary beat Scotland’s Gillian Martin 11-4, 11-1 and Manjusha Kanwar matched Popat’s feat in her 11-1, 11-1 win over Amrita Sawaram of Mauritius.
Popat is now expected to run into world No 16, the controversial Chinese-born New Zealander Li Feng in the quarter-finals.
Among the rest, Delhi-based Choudhary has a bigger test looming up in the pre-quarters against world No 10 and top seed here Kelly Morgan.
Manjusha Kanwar comes up against Canadian Charmaine Reed, before a possible meeting with second seed England’s Julia Mann in the pre-quarterfinals.
Ong out of Gopi’s way
Pullela Gopi Chandstrolled through his second round match against Craig Robertson of Scoland while awaiting news on top seed Ong Ewe Hock of Malaysia, who had injured himself while going for an impossible retrieve against the Indian in the team championship. As Gopi thrashed Robertson 15-5, 15-7, Ong took a chance on how he felt on court when he came out to face Ali Yar Beg of Pakistan. He played just two points, flung his racket in disgust and stormed off the court.
The Malaysian hope now rests on second seed Yong Hock Kin, who beat Kiwi Chris Blair 15-9, 15-1 in his opening match. Ong’s departure means an easier passage for Gopi Chand, who would otherwise have met him in the pre-quarter finals.
India’s number two player, southpaw Nikhil Kanetkar defeated Mmoloki Mothala of Botswana 15-2, 15-5 in his second round match, while Abhinsyam Gupta defeated Denis Constantin of Mauritius 15-9 15-12.
