Rankireddy’s Mixed Fortunes – Day 2: Fuzhou China Open 2018
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy rebounded from a disappointing Mixed Doubles loss to savour hard-fought success in Men’s Doubles as he and Chirag Shetty sent the No. 7 seeds packing today at the Fuzhou China Open 2018.
· GAYLE ALLEYNE
Extra points were needed in both games before the Indian partnership triumphed against Mads Conrad-Petersen and Mads Pieler Kolding, 23-21 24-22, at Haixia Olympic Sports Center.
Except for a five-point advantage at 13-8 in the second game, Rankireddy and Shetty (featured image) were locked in neck-and-neck battles with their Danish opponents in both games which could have gone either way. However, they exhibited nerves of steel to grab both games on their fourth opportunities to progress to a second-round clash with Wahyu Nayaka Arya Pangkaryanira and Ade Yusuf Santoso of Indonesia. The latter fought back from 7-11 down in the decider to beat Thailand’s Kittinupong Kedren and Dechapol Puavaranukroh, 21-15 21-23 21-17, in an hour.
Earlier in the day, Rankireddy had been on the losing end as he and Ashwini Ponnappa failed to convert a good start versus Olympic silver medallists, Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying. The Malaysians regrouped from dropping the opener to take the honours, 18-21 21-19 21-17. They will face Praveen Jordan/Melati Daeva Oktavianti for a place in the quarter-finals. The Indonesian pair enjoyed a confidence-boosting win over English couple, Chris and Gabby Adcock, 21-6 21-16.