Nagpur: The city's doubles specialist Ritika Thaker, partnering with Sonali Singh of Uttar Pradesh, made a significant impact at the Slovenia Open international badminton tournament. In their debut as a new pair, the Nagpur-Uttar Pradesh duo qualified for the main draw and went on to surprise several higher-ranked opponents before bowing out in the quarterfinals of the women's doubles event on Sunday.
Quarterfinal Battle
Facing the experienced Dutch pair of Debora Jille and Meerte Loos, Ritika and Sonali put up a spirited fight. After losing the first game 13-21, they pushed their opponents to the limit in the second game but eventually fell short 22-24, losing the match in straight games.
Impressive Pre-Quarterfinal Win
Earlier in the pre-quarterfinal round, the Indian duo caused a major upset by defeating the fourth-seeded pair of Chan Han and Jui Yi Hsu from Chinese Taipei. Ritika and Sonali dominated the match, winning 21-16, 21-12 to advance and grab the spotlight.
Opening Round Comeback
In the opening round, after qualifying for the main draw, Ritika and Sonali took some time to find their rhythm. They lost the first game 16-21 against the higher-ranked Ukrainian duo of Maria Koriagina and Yaroslava Vantsaro. However, they staged a remarkable comeback, winning the next two games 21-11, 21-15 to secure their place in the next round.
Future Prospects
Both Ritika and Sonali have taken many positives from their campaign in the Slovenia Open. They are now aiming to bring home a medal when they participate in the upcoming Austria Open and Denmark Open, respectively. The duo trains at the Arundhati Arun Badminton Academy under the guidance of coach Arun Vishnu.
