Dutch Junior International: Sai Charan Koya upsets top seed to enter pre-quarters

New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh shuttler Sai Charan Koya put up a brilliant performance to upset the top seed and storm into the pre-quarter-finals of the ongoing Dutch Junior International in Haarlem, the Netherlands on Friday.
The 16-year-old needed just 38 minutes to prevail over Indonesia’s Syabda Perkasa Belawa 21-11, 21-19. Roy was joined by Maisnam Meiraba Luwang and Priyanshu Rajawat in the Round of 16 on a day of some scintillating upsets by the young Indian shuttlers.
Manipur’s Meiraba registered a strong 21-13, 21-16 victory over the ninth seed Ernesto Baschwitz while Dhar native Rajawat emerged a fluent 21-14, 21-12 winner over the 13th seed Miguel San Luis, also of Spain.
India dazzled in girls’ singles as well with a mature show from Gayatri Gopichand. The 15-year-old staved off a stiff resistance from the 10th seeded Amy Tan in the first game and then quickly clenched the second game to secure a 21-17, 21-12 win en route to the pre-quarters.
However, the campaign came to an end for Samiya Imad Farooqui, Smit Toshniwal and Treesa Jolly. 2017 Asian Junior Championships U-15 gold medallist Farooqui was beaten 18-21, 15-21 by the fourth seed Anastasiia Shapovalova while the 12th seeded Toshniwal was edged 21-18, 12-21, 17-21 by Korea’s Hye Jin Choi. Jolly could not overcome the 16th seeded So Yul Lee, falling 13-21, 10-21.
The boys’ doubles team of Navaneeth Bokka and Vishnu Vardhan Goud Panjala were the only Indian doubles pair to win on Day 3 of this Junior International Grand Prix event as the Indian challenge got over in girls’ doubles.