Munawar shocks India number 12 Chahal Siddharth wins

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Young Mohammed Munawar upset India number 12, Ketan Chahal, 21-17, 21-11 in the opening session of the week-long 'super' stage of the Global Hawk Imaging & Diagnostic LLC 38th India Club UAE Open Badminton Tournament on Sunday night at the hosts' four-court parquet facility in Karama.

Munawar has been a consistent performer both here and on the Kerala circuit for the past three seasons with title wins in the Indian rated circuits in his native state.

Ranked players from India and Malaysia, all here on invitation, take on the top players of the men's singles and doubles of the 'open' leg of the tournament for honours in the super group.

Dea Adi Rangga; Kornelius Mujiono; Adi Kusuma Admaja; Mohammed Munawar; Nandagopal Kidambi; Mohammed Muanis; Jaffar Ebrahim, Bahrain national champion; Alex Eapen Tharakan and Imam come from the 'open' category. Also in this group is Ketan Chahal, the Indian number 12 and Haryana State champion who has travelled to Dubai for a private visit here.

Malaysia's former All-England champion Hafiz Hashim overcame stiff resistance from Indian Harshit Agarwal, a promising under 19 India player, 21-14, 21-14 in the first singles fixture for the night.

Next, 'open' topper Imam Adi Kusuma Admaja had to fight all the way before working out a 21-17, 22-24, 21-19 win against Indonesian compatriot and 'open' singles semifinalist Kornelius Mujiono. Current India 11, Siddharth Thakur overcame Malaysia's Zairul Hafiz 21-17, 21-15. Zairul was a former Malaysian national squad player.

Malaysia's under-18 champion Nur Izzuddin beat Bangalore-based India number 41 Mohit Kamat 21-10, 21-19 while Indian National Games double gold medallist in doubles, Nandagopal Kidambi, fought past 'open' player Mohammed

Malaysia's under-18 champion Nur Izzuddin beat Bangalore-based India number 41 Mohit Kamat 21-10, 21-19 while Indian National Games double gold medallist in doubles, Nandagopal Kidambi, fought past 'open' player Mohammed Muanis 21-9, 21-19.

Former Indian champion and World Championship quarterfinalist Anup Sridhar used his experience well to stop Razlan Shah, a budding under-21 player from Malaysia 21-13, 21-11 as open runner-up Dea Adi Rangga beat Bahrain champ Jaffer Ebrahim 21-10, 21-11 in the final singles fixture for the night.