New Delhi: The newly formed Indian women's doubles team featuring Ashwini Ponnappa and Pradnya Gadre defeated England's pair of Lauren Smith and Gabrielle White 19-21, 22-20, 21-11 to enter the second round of India Open here on Wednesday.
In another match, Jwala Gutta and Prajakta Sawant lost to Misato Aratama and Megumi Taruno of Japan 19-21, 10-21 to crash out of the event.
Ponnappa and Gadre made some unforced errors and were not able to find their rhythm that cost them the first game. But in the next, with the crowd behind them, they started off by taking a three-point lead but the England pair bounced back and led 11-9 at one time.
However, Ponnappa and Gadre kept their cool and fought their way back to clinch the second game 22-20. In the third game, the Indian pair hardly gave Smith and White any chance to claw back and dominated from the outset. It was Ponnappa's experience and net play that was evident and helped seal the third game and match at 21-11.
Meanwhile in the other matches, it was a mixed day for the Indians until Anand Pawar, Sourabh Varma and Arundhati Pantawane started on a winning note. Before that Chetan Anand lost to Sourabh 13-21, 8-21 and Subhankar Dey was beaten by Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin 17-21, 11-21.
In women's single Sayali Gokhale was out in the first round after she lost to Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand 8-21, 12-21. India's Thulasi PC also lost to Japan's Eriko Hirose 7-21, 13-21.
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