4 Nations Day 2 Morning Roundup
Thursday morning saw Scotsman Colin Leslie begin his men’s SL 3 campaign, losing out to 2024 World Championship bronze medalist Kumar Nitesh of India 10, 3 to 21, 21 in a valiant effort.
Elsewhere, double Olympic gold medalist Sarina Satomi was victorious in her WH 1 clash with Irish player Melanie Griffith. Team GB Olympic silver medalist Daniel Bethell also started strongly, beating Mathieu Thomas of France 21, 21 to 6, 7.
Jungman Choi bounced back from yesterday’s disappointment in the WH 1 men’s doubles, with the top-ranked star beating Japanese player Hiroshi Murayama 21, 21 to 18, 11 in the WH 1 men’s singles.
In the WH 2 women’s singles Turkey’s Emine Seckin was again victorious, beating Chen-I Yang of Chinese Taipei 21, 21 to 16, 10.
There was a potential shock on the cards in the women’s singles SH 6 category, with world-number-one Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan taken to a deciding set. After winning the first set 21 to 5, Peruvian athlete Rubi Milagros Fernandez Vargas took the second set 22 to 20. The Indian star then took the third set decisively 21 to 12 to secure victory in round 2.
Fellow Peruvian Giuliana Poveda Flores proved to be more successful, however. The world number two comfortably dispatched Yi-Lin Cai of Chinese Taipei 21, 21 to 12, 12. She will look to continue this good form in her afternoon singles and mixed doubles matches.
For Scottish fans, Leslie will return to action in the afternoon against Dillaswar Rao Gadela of India whilst Gregor Anderson will feature in both men’s singles and doubles action.
By Nathan Hassett