In the 2015 Russian Open Grand Prix Badminton tournament at Vladivostok, many Indian shuttlers in different categories have advanced to the quarterfinals after the conclusions of Thursday’s second round matches. In men’s singles, no.3 seed Ajay Jayaram defeated Russia’s Anatoly Yartsev to enter the quarterfinals and among women, India’s Tanvi Lad caused a major upset by beating Bulgaria’s no. 2 seed Linda Zetchiri in three games. India’s men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy struck a double pot of luck with walkovers in second round and quarterfinals as their opponents didn’t turn up and the pair is already in the semifinals. India also entered the mixed doubles quarterfinals, when the pair of Akshay Dewalkar and Prajakta Sawant defeated the Egyptians Abdelrahman Kashkal and Hadia Hosny.
Fortune favored India’s men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy. Attri/Reddy won their first round match on Wednesday without any hassles against Malaysia’s Zulfaiz Bin Zulkiffli and Zulhelmi Zulkiffli 21-11, 21-15. Then the lady luck smiled twice on the Indian pair as they benefitted from double walkovers since their second-round and QF opponents failed to turn up. With victory in just one match, Attri and Reddy find themselves in the Russian Open semifinals.
India’s good fortune continued in the mixed doubles with the pair of Akshay Dewalkar and Prajakta Sawant reaching the quarterfinals. After scoring a convincing 21-16, 21-16 first round victory over Russia’s Rodion Kargaev and Ekaterina Bolotova on Wednesday, the Indian duo thundered past Abdelrahman Kashkal and Hadia Hosny of Egypt 21-11, 21-14 in just 19 minutes in the second-round. For a place in the semifinals, the Indians will have to beat the fourth seeded French pair of Ronan Labar and Emilie Lefel.