Nagpur: Ritika Thaker of Nagpur and her partner Navaneeth Bokka entered pre-quarterfinals at the Vietnam Open, underway at Ho Chi Minh City, on Wednesday.
Playing mixed doubles in this Super 100 event, Ritika and Navaneeth had a come from behind victory. Playing against Tan Kean Wie and Tan Shen Thing of Malaysia, the India pair lost the first game 15-21. They made amends in the next game to wrap it up with the score reading 21- 16 in their favour. The Malaysians came back strongly and were always in the lead in the decider. At one point, they looked clear favourites when they were leading 18-14. But Ritika and Navaneeth displayed their calmness and patience and started playing attacking badminton to win the decider 22-20.
The doubles specialist Ritika Thaker had fluctuating fortunes in the main draw of the Vietnam Open Super 100 badminton tournament.
While Ritika rallied splendidly to win her mixed doubles opening round with Navaneeth Bokka, the city girl playing with a new partner crashed out in the women’s doubles section.
In the mixed doubles opening round of 32 pairs from across the globe, Ritika and Navaneeth defeated Malaysia pair of Tan Kean Wie and Tan Shen Thing 15-21, 21-16, 22-20 in 36 minutes.
In the women’s doubles opening round, Ritika paired up with Aparna Balan and went down fighting against eighth seeded duo from Indonesia Siti Sarah Azzahra and Agnia Sri Rahayu 21-23, 14-21.
In the pre-quarterfinals of the mixed doubles section, Ritika and Navaneeth will face the Indian duo of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto.
