Nagpur shuttlers Ritika, Mugdha, Rohan, Malvika start campaign in style

NAGPUR: City shuttlers launched their campaign on a rousing note on the opening day of the main draw competition in the All India Junior (U-17 and U-19) Ranking Badminton tournament at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on Thursday.
After three days of qualifying rounds, the tough main draw action between country’s top 64 players got underway. Nagpur youngsters did well in their respective categories to advance to the next round.
Third seed Malvika Bansod and fourth seed Ritika Thaker made light of their opponents in the U-17 girls singles first round.While Malvika thumped Aashi Rawat, Ritika got the better of Mehreen Riza. However, another city lass Gargi Joshi lost against VS Varshini.
In the U-19 girls singles, eleventh seed Mugdha Agrey ousted Rutuparna Panda in straight games. Recently crowned state U-19 singles champion at Parbhani, Rashi Lambe continued her good form to down A Abhilasha to enter the second round.
Qualifier Arya Anchalwar put up a good fight in the first game against U-19 singles top seed Aakarshi Kashyap but lost her steam as the match progressed. Gargi also could not get the better of fifth seed Kanika Kanwal.
In the U-17 girls doubles, city duo Arya Anchalwar and Livia Fernandez will take on third seeds Sahithi Bandi and VS Varshini on Friday.
No. 16 seed Rohan Gurbani thrashed Aravind V Suresh 21-6, 21-13 in the first round of U-17 boys singles. After a disappointing show in the U-19 singles in the qualification it was a good comeback by Rohan. Rishabh Deshpande ended the brilliant run of qualifier Gaurav Mithe of Nagpur win a fluent 21-11, 21-7 win.
RESULTS (Round 1)
U-17 girls singles: 3-Malvika Bansod bt Aashi Rawat 21-16, 21-11; 4-Ritika Thaker bt Mehreen Riza 21-11, 21-10; Gargi Joshi lost to VS Varshini 15-21, 15-21.
U-19 girls singles: 11-Mugdha Agrey bt Rutuparna Panda 21-16, 21-19; Malvika Bansod lost to K Ashwini Bhat 18-21, 21-17, 8-21; Rashi Lambe bt A Abhilasha 21-14, 21-14; Arya Anchalwar lost to 1-Aakarshi Kashyap 16-21, 7-21; Gargi Joshi lost to 5-Kanika Kanwal 10-21, 19-21.
U-17 boys singles: 16-Rohan Gurbani bt Aravind V Suresh 21-6, 21-13.