Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Advance to Second Round in German Open Badminton 2024
Dara Singh Chahal
Pune, 28th Feb 2024: In an impressive display of skill and resilience, the Indian women’s doubles pair, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, secured a hard-fought victory to progress to the second round of the German Open 2024 badminton tournament in Mulheim.
Seeded fourth in the competition, Treesa and Gayatri faced a formidable challenge from Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Yin-Hui and Lin Jhih Yun in their opening match. Despite a setback in the first game, the Indian duo showcased remarkable determination, clinching victory with scores of 18-21, 21-11, 21-13 after a gripping 57-minute encounter.
Having played pivotal roles in India’s historic gold medal triumph at the 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships in Busan earlier this month, Treesa and Gayatri demonstrated their prowess on the international stage once again, overcoming their opponents with strategic play and unwavering resolve.
In the absence of top-ranked Indian players such as PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen, and Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Treesa and Gayatri emerged as leading contenders from the Indian contingent at the Mulheim event.
Meanwhile, in the men’s singles qualifiers, Sankar Subramanian showcased remarkable form, securing his place in the main draw with impressive victories. Ranked 69th in the badminton rankings, Subramanian defeated German shuttler Kai Schaefer and Switzerland’s Tobias Kuenzi in convincing fashion, earning his spot in the opening round main draw.
Subramanian’s remarkable performance sets the stage for an exciting challenge as he prepares to face Canada’s Brian Yang, the fifth seed, in the upcoming rounds.
The German Open 2024, the sixth tournament on the 2024 badminton calendar, holds significance as it offers qualifying ranking points to players vying for spots in the Paris 2024 Olympics. With the qualification window for badminton commencing on May 1 last year, the tournament presents a crucial opportunity for athletes to showcase their talent and advance on the global stage.
