The 87th Senior National Badminton Championships witnessed a powerful start from India's emerging talents on Wednesday in Vijayawada. Top-seeded players and promising youngsters delivered commanding performances to secure their spots in the next rounds, setting the stage for an exciting tournament.
Dominant Wins for Top Contenders
Unnati Hooda, the tournament's top seed who received a first-round bye, made a strong entry by overpowering wildcard entrant Akanksha Matte. Hooda secured a convincing victory with scores of 21-8, 21-18, demonstrating her readiness for the challenges ahead.
World Junior Championships silver medallist Tanvi Sharma also began her campaign on a high note. She faced Asian U-15 girls' singles gold medallist Shaina Manimuthu and emerged victorious with a solid 21-10, 21-14 win, showcasing her technical prowess.
Men's Singles and Experienced Campaigners Shine
In the men's draw, Guwahati Masters Super 100 champion Sanskar Saraswat started in style, defeating Shikhar Rallan 21-11, 21-13. The experienced Aakarshi Kashyap joined the winners' circle with a dominant performance against Asian U-17 championships silver medallist Lakshya Rajesh, winning 21-7, 21-9.
Ashmita Chaliha also progressed smoothly, getting the better of Kavya Marvaniya with scores of 21-7, 21-11. In the men's singles, 11th seed Rounak Chauhan advanced by defeating Ranveer Singh 21-9, 21-13, while 12th seed D S Saneeth booked his next-round spot with a 21-7, 21-11 win over Ankit Mondal.
Upset of the Day
The day was not without its surprise. The only seeded player to fall was 16th seed Purva Barve. In a hard-fought round of 64 match, Barve went down against M Meghana Reddy in a three-game thriller, with the final score reading 21-19, 17-21, 18-21 in Reddy's favor.
The early rounds have successfully highlighted the depth of talent in Indian badminton, with both established names and new faces making their mark. As the 87th Senior National Badminton Championships progress, fans can expect more intense matches and stellar performances from the country's best shuttlers.
