Syed Modi International 2023: Ashwini-Rohan pair enters second round in mixed doubles on opening day

Veteran Ashwini Ponnappa and her partner Rohan Kapoor entered the second round of mixed doubles on the opening day of the Syed Modi International 2023 Badminton Championships in Lucknow on Tuesday.

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The Indian pair ended the challenge of Malaysian pair of Peng Soon Chan and Yee See Cheah in straight games 21-12, 21-18.

The mixed pair of B Sumeeth Kumar Reddy and Sikki Reddy also tasted success in the Syed Modi International 2023 tournament. The pair defeated Taiwan's Hsuan-Yi Wu and Chu Yun 21-14, 21-14 and secured a place in the second round. Meanwhile, the pair of Venkat Gaurav Prasad and Juhi Dewangan lost to Taiwan's Chien-Wei Chiang and Meng Chen Wu in the mixed doubles qualifiers.

In the men's singles qualifiers of Syed Modi International 2023, Chirag Sen entered the main round by ending the tough challenge of Ravi 21-7, 12-21, 21-17. Sen, partnering with Dhruv Rawat in the main round, was successful in reaching the second round by defeating Vimalraj Annadurai and Navin Prasanth Eswaramoorthy 22-24, 21-13, 21-17 in the men's doubles.

Indian shuttlers HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen have pulled out of the Syed Modi International 2023, taking some sheen out of the Super 300 badminton tournament starting on November 28. Asian Games bronze medallist Prannoy had recovered from a back injury to reach the semifinals at China Masters Super 750, while Canada Open winner Sen, world No. 17, hasn't looked his self with six first-round exit since August.

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It has been a hectic schedule for the players and with the Olympic qualification on the line, players would like to be fresh for the next season. The BWF 'Race to Paris Ranking Lists' of 30 April will be considered for qualification. Olympic medallist P V Sindhu is also missing in action as she recovers from an injury.