The Indian badminton contingent made a roaring statement on the opening day of the US Open on Wednesday, June 25, spearheaded by dominant performances from rising stars Tanvi Sharma and Devika Sihag.
Indian shuttlers off to a flying start at US Open
Both shuttlers secured convincing straight-game victories to sail into the second round of the women’s singles draw, setting a confident tone for the rest of the delegation.
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Tanvi Sharma shines bright
World Junior Championships silver medallist Tanvi Sharma showed tremendous composure in her opening fixture against Germany’s Yvonne Li. After a grueling opening game where she narrowly edged out her opponent, Tanvi raised her level in the second to seal a 23-21, 21-16 victory. On an adjacent court, Thailand Masters champion Devika Sihag enjoyed a more straightforward outing. Displaying excellent court coverage, Devika dismantled Peru’s Ines Lucia Castillo with a clinical 21-14, 21-14 scoreline.
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Kidambi Srikanth notches up emphatic win
The men’s singles category featured high-stakes, all-Indian matchups that guaranteed early drama. In the first domestic clash, up-and-coming talent Rounak Chouhan pulled off a notable upset by defeating former World Junior Championships silver medallist S. Sankar Muthusamy in a tightly contested 23-21, 21-16 battle. Soon after, the veteran of the squad and fifth seed, Kidambi Srikanth, put on a masterclass in efficiency. Srikanth needed a mere 30 minutes to dismantle fellow countryman D. Saneeth, cruising to a comfortable 21-14, 21-12 victory.
The winning momentum carried over into the rest of the Indian camp, with notable triumphs in both singles and doubles events. Women’s singles prospect Rakshitha Sree outclassed the Czech Republic’s Tereza Svabikova, wrapping up a comprehensive 21-15, 21-8 win with minimal fuss. Meanwhile, India’s prowess in the doubles circuit was on full display as the seventh-seeded mixed doubles duo of Dhruv Rawat and K. Maneesha delivered a flawless performance. The pair took just 26 minutes to dispatch Indonesia’s Wirawan Ihsan Adam and Serena Kani 21-15, 21-16, ensuring a highly successful, near-flawless opening day for India in the tournament.