The host nation’s Madhurika Patkar, who had negotiated the
qualification stage successfully, was the one player to cause an upset
in the opening round of the Women’s Singles event at the Indian Open in
Indore on Friday 13th March 2009.
To the delight of the home
supporters, in the splendid Abhay Prashal Indoor Stadium, she ousted
Singapore’s Zena Sim in four straight games.
Madhurika Patkar won 11-6, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5.
Alien Style
It was a
very impressive and most clinically efficient performance from the
Indian international; especially considering the fact that she faced a
player whose style was not to her liking.
"I am not at all
comfortable against defence players; on previous occasions I have lost
to defensive players", said a quite stunned Madhurika Patkar. "I am
very surprised that I won comfortably and was able to beat her with
ease."
Comfortable Wins
Defeat for the no.6 seed but no great problems for the remaining highly rated players.
Top
seed Singapore’s Yu Meng Yu reaped revenge for the defeat of Zena Sim
by overcoming India’s Sanya Sehgal in five games whilst Malaysia’s Beh
Lee Wei inflicted more pain on India by overcoming Prajakta Tipale,
also in five games.
However, India should not bee too disappointed; both are young players and both have impressed on the ITTF Junior Circuit.
Indians Progress
Furthermore, there was success for India.
Poulomi
Ghatak, seeded no.3, beat Natalia Zhyshkevich of Belarus in four
straight games whilst in the all Indian duels there were successes for
Mouma Das, seeded no.5, Shamini Kumaresan, seeded no.7 and Kasturi
Chakraborty, seed no.8.
Mouma Das beat Mamta Prabhu and Shamini
Kumaresan overcame Ankita Das, both recording five games wins; however,
for Kasturi Chakraborty life was more difficult.
She needed the full seven games to end the hopes of Pooja Sahasrabudhe.
Malaysia
Meanwhile,
in the one remaining first round match Malaysia’s Ng Sock Khim, seeded
no.4, defeated India’s Niveditha Arumbakkam; she won in four straight
games.
Source: www.ittf.com
