BIRMINGHAM: Star Indian shuttlers Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty started their All England Open 2024 campaign with a win in the opening round of the tournament. After winning the French Open 2024, the Indian duo of Satwik and Chirag clinched a 21-18, 21-14 win over the Indonesian pair of Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan.
The world’s number one pair, Chirag and Satwik will take on Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and Bagas Maulana in the second round. The Indian duo will be eyeing to become the first Indian doubles pair to win the All-England Open title.
Meanwhile, Lakshya Sen beat Danish badminton player Magnus Johannesen 21-14, 21-14. Sen will face Anders Antonsen in the second round. On the other hand, Priyanshu Rajawat suffered a defeat against Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo of Indonesia 21-19, 11-21, 21-9.
In the women’s doubles category, Tanisha Castro and Ashwini Ponnappa sealed a win over Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam of Hong Kong China 21-13, 21-18. The Indian duo will lock horns with China’s Zhang Shuxian and Zheng Yu in the pre-quarterfinals.
However, Rutaparna and Swetaparna Panda moved out of the tournament after losing to Japan’s Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi 21-9, 21-9. (ANI)