Badminton

Indian badminton stars Meiraba Luwang Maisnam, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and Chirag Shetty continued their impressive run at the Thailand Open Super 500 on Thursday, advancing to the quarterfinals in their respective categories.Meiraba, a 21-year-old rising star, upset Denmark's Mads Christophersen 21-14, 22-20 in a hard-fought men's singles clash. The victory marked another milestone for Meiraba, who has been training at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy. He will now face a formidable challenge in the quarterfinals against world champion and local hero Kunlavut Vitidsarn.In men's doubles, the world number 3 Indian pair of Satwik and Chirag dominated Xie Sao Nan and Zeng Wei Han of China 21-16, 21-11. The Asian Games gold medallists will next face Malaysia's Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap.However, it was a disappointing day for Ashmita Chaliha in women's singles. Despite a valiant effort, she narrowly lost to top-seeded Chinese Han Yue 15-21, 21-12, 12-21. In mixed doubles, Sathish Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath also bowed out of the competition, losing 10-21, 17-21 to Rinov Rivaldy and Pitha Haningtyas Mentari.The Indian shuttlers' success at the Thailand Open Super 500 is a testament to their hard work and dedication. Meiraba's victory over Christophersen is a significant achievement, while Satwik and Chirag continue to prove their dominance in men's doubles. The tournament provides valuable experience for the Indian players as they prepare for the upcoming Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

Indian badminton stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will lead the charge for India at the Thailand Open Super 500 tournament, starting Tuesday in Bangkok. The top-seeded Indian pair, considered favorites for Olympic gold in Paris, will aim to regain their competitive edge after facing challenges in the Thomas Cup.Rankireddy and Shetty will face Malaysia's Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub Azriyn and Tan Wee Kiong in their opening match. The tournament serves as a crucial platform for Olympic-bound shuttlers to refine their skills and test new strategies.India's top singles player, HS Prannoy, will also seek to improve his form after battling health issues this season. Despite a confidence-boosting win over Indonesia's Anthony Ginting, Prannoy's loss to China's Shi Yuqi highlights the need for him to close out tight matches.Other Indian singles players in the fray include Kiran George and Sathish Kumar Karunakaran. In women's singles, Ashmita Chaliha, Malvika Bansod, and Aakarshi Kashyap will represent India in the absence of PV Sindhu.In women's doubles, the fourth-seeded Indian pair of Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa, who have qualified for the Paris Games, will begin their campaign in the second round.The Thailand Open Super 500 tournament provides a valuable opportunity for Indian shuttlers to fine-tune their preparations for the Paris Olympics and showcase their skills on the international stage.