Hylo Open 2023: Mithun Manjunath advances to pre-quarters on disappointing day for India

Published at :November 2, 2023 at 1:20 AM

Modified at :January 14, 2024 at 12:53 AM

(Courtesy : Badminton Association of India)

Sankar Muthusamy and Kiran George bowed out from the opening round.

World No. 58 Mithun Manjunath beat Italian Fabio Caponio in straight games to end with a win in what was a disappointing day for Indians at the BWF Hylo Open 2023. It was a battle of equals in the first game, but the Italian committed many unforced errors to gift the first game. The 25-year-old Indian continued the momentum to finish the match 21-16, 21-8, and register the only win for India in the day.

Former silver medalist from the World Junior Championships, Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian, lost in the first round of the Hylo Open Super 300 in Saarbrucken, Germany, on Wednesday to world no. 45 Julien Carraggi of Belgium. In 49 minutes, Julien defeated Sankar 16-21, 21-12, 21-10.

Sankar (World No. 70) exited the Round of 32 for the second time in a row in BWF World Tour tournaments. He was defeated in straight games by Frenchman Arnaud Merkle in the Abu Dhabi Masters last week.

Rutaparna and Swetaparna Panda, the sisters, were unable to compete against Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning, the world no. 11 pair from China in the women’s doubles category. They lost the game with a scoreline of 15-21 and 5-21.

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The Indian duo have now lost three times in a row in the first round. Both Rutaparna and Swetaparna had similar outcomes at the Arctic Open and the French Open.

World No:35, Kiran George was expected to create a huge impact after having won the Indonesian Masters last month. But he lost to third-seeded Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong in a match that lasted for an hour.

Angus won the first game 21-15 but the second game was closely contested with the Indian taking it 22-20. In the decider, the World No: 20 Hong Kong man was decisive in his shots to take the game & match for 21-18.