Badminton world number one Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia has been provisionally suspended for an "apparent" anti-doping violation, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said on Tuesday.

Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei (Photo: AFP/File)

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KUALA LUMPUR: Badminton's governing body confirmed on Tuesday (Nov 11) that Lee Chong Wei has been suspended "due to an apparent anti-doping regulation violation", identifying him for the first time after weeks of reports naming the world number one.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) said the Malaysian star was barred from competing until its panel determines whether he has committed a violation, after he failed a drugs test at the BWF World Championships in August. No date for the hearing has been given, and the BWF declined further comment.

Lee, who is Malaysia's most prominent male athlete, has said that he "never cheated" and will fight to clear his name after a second test last week confirmed the banned anti-inflammatory dexamethasone in his sample. If found guilty of doping, he faces a suspension of up to two years, spelling the end of his career.

In an interview with his friend and sports blogger Satwant Singh Dhaliwal published Saturday, Lee said the positive result was a "mystery". The 32-year-old said he received dexamethasone during stem cell treatment for a thigh injury in July but had passed an out-of-competition test before the world championships, where he lost in the final to China's Chen Long.

"I never cheated nor will I ever rely on banned substances," Lee said. "There are so many unanswered questions, and I hope to clear my name soon."

The affair has shocked the sport, which has seen few doping scandals. Malaysian officials have said they believe Lee is innocent and will do all they can to help him present his case.

Despite topping the sport's rankings for years, Lee has never won a world title or Olympic gold, often crashing out against Chinese star Lin Dan in the finals.

French Open Badminton: Saina Nehwal, Parupalli Kashyap Crash Out in Quarters

Ace India shuttlers Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap crashed out of the French Open Super Series on Friday.

While Saina went down to World No. 2 Shixian Wang of China in a hard-fought women's singles quarterfinal contest, Kashyap lost 21-15, 13-21, 21-13  to fifth-seeded Chinese shuttler Zhengming Wang.

Seeded fifth, Saina posed quite a challenge to her Chinese rival but in the end it was a case of so close, yet so far for the Indian who lost 19-21, 21-19, 15-21. The battle lasted an hour and 10 minutes.

Having lost the opening game, the world number six Indian bounced back to snatch the second but failed to sustain the pressure in the deciding game against a superior opponent.

The London Olympics bronze-medallist looked strong and confident in the opening game. Having broken away from a 5-5 tie, the Indian surged ahead to take a 10-6 lead and then in no time extended it to 14-8.

However, at 17-13, Saina failed to tighten the noose and allowed her opponent to climb back into the game. Wang bagged six consecutive points to first tie the scores at 17-17 and then take a 19-17 lead.

Although Saina earned a couple of points to inch closer by making it 19-20, the Chinese shut the door on her 21-19 in the first game.

The second game was a neck-to-neck affair with none of the two conceding any massive lead. At the break, Saina was ahead only by a slender margin of 11-10.

Saina then went ahead to 14-13 before the Chinese forced the Indian to make some errors and take a 18-15 lead.

But the shuttler from Hyderabad, determined not to give away so easily, compelled her rival to move around the court and tired her out.

Saina went on to bag five consecutive points to draw level at 18-18 and then make it 20-18. She quickly wrapped it up 21-19 to take the match to the decider.

In the third game, Saina started positively, while Wang seemed to be completely out of colour initially.

Having opened up a 6-1 lead, Saina soon increased it to 10-5 and then went on to extend it to 15-10.

But just when it seemed that the Indian would run away with the match comfortably, Wang turned things upside down to totally flummox Saina.

The Chinese upped her ante to take the last 11 points on a trot to seal the issue in her favour and advance to the semifinals.

Kashyap upsets World No.4 Tago in French Open

PARIS: Four days after he stunned world No.3 Jan O Jorgensen in the Denmark Open, Parupalli Kashyap upset world No.4 Kenichi Tago 21-11, 21-18 in the first round of the French Open Super Series in Paris on Wednesday. 

Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal too joined Kashyap in the second round with a comfortable victory over Sashina Vignes Waran of France 2116, 21-9. However, unseeded Porntip Buranaprasertsuk of Thailand knocked out fifth seed PV Sindhu 12-21, 21-18, 21-16. Meanwhile, Ashwini Ponnappa and her new Russian partner Vladimir Ivanov registered their first victory in a tournament proper when they ousted Japanese duo of Keigo Sonoda and Shizuka Matsuo 21-16, 21-19. Ashwini returned a few hours later with Jwala Gutta to beat Eefje Muskens and Selena Piek of the Netherlands 18-21, 21-16, 21-14 in the women's doubles first round. 

The manner in which Kashyap ousted Tago, considered a title favourite will encourage him to go all the way. 

Kashyap started on a strong note and had main tained a four-point lead right through the first game.Though Tao made amends in the second game, Kashyap killed the contest with a fourpoint burst from 17-18 in the second. Though local shuttler Sashina started on a confident note, Saina was too good for her. Sashina won some early points but failed to offer any fight to Saina from the seventh point. 

Indian results (Rd I): Men's singles: Parupalli Kashyap bt 3Kenichi Tago 21-11, 21-18; Kento Momota (Jpn) bt HS Prannoy 2111, 15-21, 22-20; Rajiv Ouseph (Eng) bt Sourabh Varma 21-10, 21-11; Women's singles: 5-Saina Nehwal bt Sashina Vignes Waran 21-16, 21-9, 5-PV Sindhu lost to Porntip Buranaprasertsuk (Tha) 21-12, 18-21, 16-21; Women's doubles: Jwala GuttaAshwini Ponnappa bt Eefje Muskens Selena Piek (Ned) 18-21, 21-16, 21-14; Mixed doubles: Ashwini PonnappaVladimir Ivanov (Rus) bt Keigo SonodaShizuka Matsuo (Jpn) 21-16, 21-19.

BAM to hold crisis meeting on Sunday over doping issue

Members of the Badminton Association Malaysia (BAM) council are demanding answers following Tuesday's revelation that Malaysia's top badminton player, Datuk Lee Chong Wei, had failed a dope test. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 24, 2014.Members of the Badminton Association Malaysia (BAM) council are demanding answers following Tuesday's revelation that Malaysia's top badminton player, Datuk Lee Chong Wei, had failed a dope test. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, October 24, 2014.The Badminton Association Malaysia (BAM) will hold an emergency council meeting this Sunday as bewildered council members look for answers following claims that a top shuttler had failed a dope test.BAM has been caught up in a storm following Tuesday's revelation by TV3 and The Star that Malaysia's top badminton player, Datuk Lee Chong Wei, had failed a dope test.He was reportedly tested positive for a banned substance following a random drug test at the August World Championships in Denmark.Putrajaya has so far refused to confirm the identity of the shuttler, saying it would be unfair to name the athlete until the “B” sample results were out.However, The Star reported that BAM council members were fed up with speculation over the identity of the national player."Council members wants answers and they want it fast," a council member told the English daily, hence the ECM on Sunday.BAM has so far been silent on the matter although it has been widely speculated that it was Lee who failed the random dope test.Lee was alleged to have been tested positive for the banned substance dexamethasone.It is not a performance-enhancing drug but a type of steroid medication with anti-inflammatory effects usually used to aid an athlete’s rehabilitation.Yesterday, one of BAM’s council members, told The Star that they wanted answers instead of being left in the dark.“We have urged the president to call for an ECM because we want to know more about two issues – doping and match-fixing,” said the council member.“We want to know about the athlete who has been tested positive for doping. It is not fair to implicate Lee without any confirmation or official announcement.“If our player is guilty, we want to know who is responsible for it. Was it the player himself or the people who had given him the treatment or were there some other factors?”The meeting will be chaired by BAM president Tan Sri Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Arif.
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin was reported to have met the athlete, Utusan Malaysia reported yesterday.Besides doping, badminton has also been rocked by allegations of match fixing, which purportedly involves a Malaysian fixer.
Two Danish players – Hans-Kristian Vittinghus and Kim Astrup Sorensen – had filed a complaint with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).The Danes claimed that a bookie, believed to be a Malaysian, had asked them to throw their matches during the Japan Open in June.Last week, BWF released a statement saying that they had lodged a police report on the matter. – October 24, 2014.

Srikanth, Kashyap big movers in BWF rankings

ndian men shuttlers Kidambi Srikanth and Parupalli Kashyap jumped seven places each in the latest Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings released Thursday while Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal moved up one spot to the sixth.

Srikanth is lying 16th while Kashyap is 21st in the rankings. Srikanth started the week at 23rd spot and was rewarded for his quarter-final appearance at the Denmark Open.

Commonwealth Games champion Kashyap, who defeated World No.3 Jan O Jorgensen on his way to his entry into the semi-final of the tournament in Odense, started the week at 28th place.

Saina also made the quarters of the Denmark Open, which has helped her gain one place as rising P.V. Sindhu remained at 10th position. P.C. Thulasi was the next best-placed Indian women singles player at 41st.

In women's doubles, 2011 World Championships bronze medal-winning pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa dropped two places to 22nd.

Among other men's singles players, Sourabh Verma gained one place to be 36th while H.S. Prannoy dropped a place to be 32nd. B. Sai Praneeth (43rd) and R.M.V. Gurusaidutt (44th) have also found their places among the top 50 shuttlers. The rankings continue to be topped by Malaysian Lee Chong Wei.

Yonex French Open 2014

Yonex French Open 2014 – Day 3: Zhang Powers into Quarter-finals

Friday, October 24, 2014 - Text by Dev Sukumar | Badmintonphoto

Beiwen Zhang’s impressive season continued into the Yonex French Open 2014 as she made the Women’s Singles quarter-finals yesterday.

The American, winner of four tournaments this year (Peru International, US Open, Brasil Grand Prix and Dutch Open), destroyed the challenge of Thailand’s Porntip Buranaprasertsuk in just 30 minutes in the second round. Buranaprasertsuk, who had earlier beaten India’s PV Sindhu, had no answers to Zhang as she went down 21-16 21-9.

Having taken eventual winner Li Xuerui (China) to three games at the Denmark Open last week, Zhang will be treated with caution by quarter-final opponent Wang Yihan, who had no problems in disposing off compatriot Liu Xin (21-13 21-13).

Meanwhile, another Chinese, Wang Shixian, set up her 10th meeting with long-time rival Saina Nehwal (India) after a three-game result over Japan’s Sayaka Takahashi. Nehwal, who leads their head-to-head 5-4, eased past Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour 21-19 21-16. In the other quarter-finals, top seed Li will take on Ireland’s Chloe Magee (19-21 22-20 21-8 winner over Switzerland’s Sabrina Jaquet), while Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon faces Japanese qualifier Akane Yamaguchi. Magee (above) pulled off a near-miraculous win over Jaquet. Trailing by a game and with deficits of 8-14, 12-17 and three match points down at 17-20, Magee still found the mental reserves to hang in and eventually turn it around: 19-21 22-20 21-8.

Chinese Women’s Doubles top seeds Bao Yixin/Tang Jinhua, who were near-perfect during a dream spell late last year and early this year, crashed out early yet again, this time to Japan’s Shizuka Matsuo/Mami Naito (left). The Japanese maintained their composure despite facing three consecutive match points and edged through 16-21 21-7 23-21. Matsuo/Naito face compatriots Miyuki Maeda/Reika Kakiiwa. Another Japanese pair, Ayaka Takahashi/Misaki Matsutomo take on No.5 seeds Ma Jin/Tang Yuanting (China).

Two Danes made the Men’s Singles quarter-finals. No.6 seed Hans-Kristian Vittinghus(below) overcame a tough challenge from India’s K Srikanth in the first game before cruising through 22-20 21-14, while Viktor Axelsen had it easier against Japan’s Takuma Ueda, 21-11 21-10. Vittinghus faces No.4 seed Tommy Sugiarto (Indonesia), who was pushed to three games by Chinese qualifier Chen Yuekun: 15-21 21-16 21-15.

Kashyap Parupalli prevailed in a tight match against China’s Tian Houwei (21-19 21-18). Next up for the Indian is another Chinese, Wang Zhengming, who held off a late comeback from Germany’s Marc Zwiebler, 21-19 14-21 21-19, in 67 minutes. Japan’s Kento Momota also won a three-game match, over Hong Kong’s Hu Yun, and will play Thai Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk next.

Men’s Doubles: Danes Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen reversed their recent record (two losses) against Russians Vladimir Ivanov/Ivan Sozonov and booked their quarter-final place against China’s Hong Wei/Chai Biao. Malaysia’s Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong were nearly sent crashing out by Jacco Arends/Jelle Maas (Netherlands) and had to scramble back from match point down to make the quarter-finals: 22-20 8-21 22-20.

Mixed Doubles: Jacco Arends however stayed in contention in Mixed Doubles, ensuring a quarter-final place with Selena Piek (below) after upsetting No.6 seeds Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thoungthongkam (Thailand) 21-16 17-21 21-15. China’s Lu Kai/Huang Yaqiong also won a three-game battle, over Russian-Indian pair Vladimir Ivanov/Ashwini Ponnappa, 21-8 18-21 21-9.

onex French Open 2014 – Day 2: Early Exit for Last Year’s Finalists

Thursday, October 23, 2014 - Text by Dev Sukumar | Badmintonphoto

Two of the biggest names in the Men’s Singles draw tumbled out in the opening round of the Yonex French Open 2014 yesterday.

Last year’s finalists Kenichi Tago (Japan) and Jan O Jorgensen (Denmark) both crashed out – Tago was dismissed in straight games by India’s Kashyap Parupalli (21-11 21-18) before Jorgensen lost a long battle with fast-improving Chinese Taipei player Chou Tien Chen. Chou proved a doughty opponent as he recovered from deficits of 11-16 and 17-19 to extend the first game. Although Jorgensen saved three game points, Chou finally converted the fourth to take the lead.

With the Dane storming back in the second game, the decider was expected to be a thriller, but Chou (above) ran away to a 6-0 lead and never looked back, taking the match 25-23 9-21 21-15.

The closest Men’s Singles encounter was between Japan’s Kento Momota and India’s HS Prannoy. Momota had handy leads of 18-13 and three match points at 20-17, but Prannoy refused to buckle and made it 20-all. The Japanese left-hander however scrambled home just in time, ensuring a second-round place with a 21-11 15-21 22-20 result. Momota will face Hong Kong’s Hu Yun, who also survived a three-game battle against Ireland’s Scott Evans, 21-18 20-22 21-15.

Former finalist Viktor Axelsen and fellow-Dane Hans-Kristian Vittinghus progressed with straight-game wins, as did Germany’s Marc Zweibler and China’s Wang Zhengming and Tian Houwei.

A much-anticipated Women’s Singles clash did not materialise as Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying handed a walkover to Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi. There was plenty of nail-biting action in the category, however. One big casualty was India’s PV Sindhu, at the hands of Thailand’s Porntip Buranaprasertsuk: 12-21 21-18 21-16.

Japan’s Minatsu Mitani was nearly upstaged by Commonwealth Games champion Michelle Li (Canada). Mitani led 19-15 in the decider but soon stared at defeat as Li held match point. The Japanese fought back to force a 11-21 21-17 22-20 victory. Her nemesis Li Xuerui (China, 1) awaits her in the second round.

Swiss qualifier Sabrina Jaquet (BWF home page) also pulled off a somewhat identical victory over Indonesia’s Adrianti Firdasari. Jaquet saw Firdasari climb back from 16-19 down to hold match point, but was able to win the last three points and record a 21-18 18-21 22-20 victory.

Apart from Li, three other Chinese made the second round: Wang Shixian (2), Wang Yihan (3) and Liu Xin.

Men’s Doubles: China’s Zhang Nan/Fu Haifeng, who won the Denmark Open on Sunday, were ambushed in the first round by Malaysia’s Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong. The Malaysian qualifiers edged through 21-19 9-21 21-19. Defending champions Markis Kido/Gideon Markus Fernaldi had it surprisingly tough against Philippine qualifiers Philip Joper Escueta/Ronel Estanislao but prevailed 21-17 16-21 21-16. Indian pair Pranaav Chopra/Akshay Dewalkar (above) scored a creditable 23-21 17-21 21-16 win over China’s Li Junhui/Liu Yuchen.

Women’s Doubles: There were no surprises in Women’s Doubles with all the seeded pairs getting into the second round comfortably. No.5 seeds Ma Jin/Tang Yuanting(above) however were kept on court longer than they might have anticipated by Indonesia’s Pia Zebadiah Bernadeth/Rizki Amelia Pradipta during a 21-6 9-21 21-18 victory.

Mixed Doubles: Germany’s Michael Fuchs/Birgit Michels (below) recovered from a mid-match setback to beat Thailand’s Maneepong Jongjit/Sapsiree Taerattanachai, 21-15 19-21 21-17. Singapore’s Danny Bawa Chrisnanta/Vanessa Neo too were involved in a three-game thriller against another Thai pair, Nipitphon Puangpuapech/Puttita Supajirakul , 14-21 21-18 21-19.

Yonex French Open 2014 – Day 1: Opportunity for Youngsters to Shine

Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - Text by Dev Sukumar | Badmintonphoto

Two prodigies will clash in the Women’s Singles first round of the Yonex French Open 2014, an event with unpredictable draws in some categories.

Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi breezed through two qualifying rounds to set up an opening round clash against Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying – the player she beat on the way to a historic Japan Open triumph last year. Tai avenged the loss at the Australian Open in June this year, and the stage is set for an intriguing contest.

The amazing Li Xuerui – who has reached the final of every tournament she has played this year – heads the seedings, followed by Chinese compatriot Wang Shixian. Other big names in the draw are Wang Yihan (China, 3), Saina Nehwal (India, 5), Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand, 4) and PV Sindhu (India, 8). Intanon in particular will hope to reverse the lack of form she has suffered this year. If she doesn’t fall to a lower seed, she is slated to run into Li in the semi-finals.

The Women’s Singles qualifiers alongside Yamaguchi were France's Delphine Lansac (above), Vu Thi Trang (Vietnam) and Sabrina Jaquet (Switzerland). Lansac survived a tough test in the second qualifying round against Bulgaria’s Stefani Stoeva, 12-21 21-16 21-16, and will face Intanon in the first round.

In contrast to Women’s Singles, the Men’s Singles draw appears more open. With the big three names – Lin Dan, Chen Long (China) and Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia) – skipping the event, the title is up for grabs among a number of contenders. Third seed Kenichi Tago (Japan) will hope to break his Superseries jinx, but he has a tough first round against India’s Kashyap Parupalli, who too will fancy his chances of going all the way.

Second seed Jan O Jorgensen (Denmark), winner here in 2013, also has a difficult opener against Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen, while compatriot Viktor Axelsen, a past finalist, takes on Hong Kong’s Wong Wing Ki. Other contenders include Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto, China’s Wang Zhengming, Tian Houwei and Hong Kong’s Hu Yun. India’s HS Prannoy, winner of the Indonesian Masters last month, runs into Japan’s Kento Momota in the opening round – a match that features two potential champions of the future.

Two Chinese – Song Xue and Chen Yuekun (above) – qualified along with Ng Ka Long (Hong Kong) and Dmytro Zavadsky (Ukraine). Chen was taken to three games by Russia’s Vladimir Malkov in the second qualifying round (21-11 13-21 21-13). Zavadsky(BWF home page) had a long day at the office – he beat Indonesia’s Andrew Kurniawan Tedjono 17-21 23-21 21-10 before overcoming Estonia’s Raul Must 21-13 10-21 21-7.

Men’s Doubles: Two pairs from Philippines qualified: Philip Joper Escueta/Ronel Estanislao (above) and Peter Gabriel Magnaye/Paul Jefferson Vivas. Malaysia’s Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong ran into unexpected trouble from Germany’s Raphael Beck/Andreas Heinz before pulling through: 21-23 21-16 21-13. Chinese Taipei’s Chen Hung Ling/Wang Chi-Lin also made the main draw, beating Indonesia’s Alvent Yulianto Chandra/Yonathan Suryatama Dasuki 21-18 21-15.

Women’s Doubles: With four strong Chinese pairs -- Bao Yixin/Tang Jinhua (1), Ma Jin/Tang Yuanting (5), Yu Yang/Wang Xiaoli (7) and Luo Ying/Luo Yu -- in the draw, it will require an upset of titanic proportions if any other was to end up with the title.

Mixed Doubles: The Russian-Indian combination of Vladimiv Ivanov/Ashwini Ponnappa(above) received a walkover into the main draw. The other qualifiers were: Sebastien Vincent/Andrea Vanderstukken (France), Keigo Sonoda/Shizuka Matsuo (Japan) and Bastian Kersaudy/Lea Palermo (France). 

Saina, Sindhu in second round of Denmark Open

 

 ODENSE (Denmark): Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu reached the second round of the women's singles event of the Denmark Open Super Series Premier on Wednesday.While 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist Saina was made to work hard for her 12-21, 21-10, 21-12 win over Germany's Karin Schnaase, two-time World Championships bronze medallist PV Sindhu registered a 21-12, 22-20 victory over Hong Kong's Pui Yin Yip at the Odense Sports Park. Saina got off to a poor start in the first game, losing 12-21 before showing her class to win the second game 21-10 and continued to pressurise Karin with her regal smashes. 

The World No. 7 wrapped up the third game 21-12.

In the other match, Sindhu was in her element from the start as she didn't allow Yin Yip to settle down.

The World No. 10 Indian won the first game 21-12 before her opponent got some rhythm going in the second game.

Sindhu won the closely-fought second 22-20 to reach the next round.

Earlier in the day, the Indo-Russian mixed doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Vladimir Ivanov were knocked out in the first round, losing 18-21, 18-21 in 30 minutes to Hong Kong pair Yun Lung Chan and Ying Suet Tse.

The Indo-Russian team fought hard during the match but failed to get the better of Chan-Tse, who took advantage of small mistakes made by Ponnappa and Ivanov.

4 Indian shuttlers, including Saina, advance in Denmark Open

ODENSE: On a fruitful day for the Indian shuttlers, Saina Nehwal and P V Sindhu stormed into the women's singles quarterfinals while two men's players also secured places in the last-eight stage of the Denmark Open Super Series Badminton event, here today.

London Olympics bronze medallist Saina made short work of Minatsu Mitani 21-12 21-10 in her second round contest, which lasted just 38 minutes.

Before Saina's win, two-time World Championships bronze medallist Sindhu took just 31 minutes to get the better of Ksenia Polikarpova of Russia 21-17 21-19 at the Odense Sports Park.

Since the top two women shuttlers from India are in either half of the draw, they could clash for the title if they win two more matches.

In the men's singles, Srikanth defeated Chinese Taipei's Jen Hao Hsu 21-12 21-15 in 45 minutes while Kashyap fought hard before prevailing over Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka of Indonesia 21-17 17-21 22-20 in a contest that lasted 69 minutes.

World No. 10 Sindhu opened up a 4-0 lead in the first game and continued to widen the gap, eventually winning it 20-17.

In the second game, Sindhu quickly broke away from a 2-2 tie to take a slight edge and then she kept on extending it to make it 19-15 at one stage. But a brief fight back from the Russian saw her closing the gap to 19-20 before Sindhu used all her experience to wrap it up in her favour.

In men's singles second round matches, Srikanth had a rather comfortable outing today, but Glasgow Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kashyap faced a stiff challenge from his Indonesian rival.


After a neck and neck battle till 13-13 in the opening game, Kashyap bagged four consecutive points to make it 17-13 and then there was no looking back for the Indian.

But the Indonesian shuttler came back strongly in the second game as he opened up a huge 7-1 lead.

Although Kashyap managed to reel off six points on a trot to catch his opponent, the Indonesian showed a lot of determination to keep the Indian at bay and take the match to the decider.

Third game was a closely-fought affair with both players refusing to spare an inch. The game swung from one end to other before the Indian held his nerves to earn two points from 20-20 to advance to the next stage.

Arvind Shuttler Bhat progresses in Dutch Open

ALMERE (Netherlands): Indian shuttler Arvind Bhat progressed to the second round of men's singles at the $50,000 Dutch Open Grand Prix on Wednesday. 

The 15th seeded Indian beat Scotland's Kieran Merrilees 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 in 28 minutes and will take on Hong Kong's Yan Kit Chan later in the day for a place in the pre-quarterfinals. 

Bhat's compatriot and 13th seed Ajay Jayaram will play his first round later against Dutch Erik Meijs at the Topsportcentrum Almere.

Young Arjun reaches finals of two events in Belgian Open

HERSTAL (Belgium): Young Indian shuttler Arjun Matathil Ramachandran reached the finals of mixed and men's doubles events in Belgian Junior International challenge badminton tournament on Saturday. 

Mixed doubles pair of Kuhoo Garg and Arjun eked out a 11-7, 11-9, 10-11, 8-11, 11-8 win over Scotland's Adam Hall and Julie Mc Pherson in the semifinals in a 35-minute match to enter the finals, where they will take on German combo of Bjarne Geiss and Yvonne Li. 

Earlier in the day, Kuhoo and Arjun had defeated Pawel Smilowski and Magdalena Swierczynska of Poland 11-7, 11-9 and 11-3 in the quarterfinals. 

Kuhoo and Arjun had won two gold medals in Sushant Chipalkatti Memorial Junior International Badminton Championship at Pune early this month. 

In men's doubles competition, Arjun and Chirag Chandrashekar Shetty saw off Spain's Enrique Penalver and Javier Suarez 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 to set up a summit clash with Scotland's Alex Dunn and Adam Hall. 

The Indian combo had beaten Belgium's Rover Jay Babatido and Lawrence De Pauw 11-7, 11-2, 11-7 in the semifinals. 

However, it was curtains for men's singles player Rahul Bharadwaj. Bharadwaj, who had beaten Germany's David Peng 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 in the quarterfinals, lost to Turkey's Muhammed Ali Kurt 7-11, 8-11, 6-11 in a 20-minute semifinal match. 

Belgian Junior open is one of BWF's sanctioned events which is testing out the experimental scoring system -- 5 games to 11.