Malaysia’s Jing Yi Tee smashed on her rival’s body and close to the lines to win crucial points and the quarterfinal match against India’s teenager and national champion Ruthvika Shivani Gadde 21-18, 18-21, 21-19 in the women’s singles event of the $15,000 Tata Open International Challenge at the Cricket Club of India’s Nowroji Saklatwala badminton courts here on Friday.
In a thrilling 55-minute scarp that took place on the centre court, the World No. 37 and the top seed here Jing brought to fore her experience of playing 200 singles matches in the BWF senior tournaments. Ruthvika meanwhile demonstrated that she is endowed with the craft to excel and ability to withstand nerves to advance to the next stage of her career.
With a bit of luck, the 174-metre tall Ruthvika may have pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament toppling the top seed; she showed the intent, rallying from 13-17 down to 19 all in the decider, but made mistakes in the closing minutes to lose to an opponent who was nimble footed on the court.
Without doubt though, what made the difference was Jing’s ability to spot a weak high return and smash the shuttle to deadly effect. On her part Ruthvika won points with sleight of hand near the net and also by outsmarting her rival with lovely forehand and backhand cross-court drops.
The results (quarterfinals): Women: Jing Yi Tee (Mas) bt Ruthvika Shivani Gadde 2-18, 18-21, 21-19; Yen Mei Ho (Mas) bt P.C. Thulasi 21-18, 21-19; Saili Rane bt Erlina Kurnianti (Ina) 21-19, 21-16; Pornpawee Chochuwong (Thai) by Tanvi Lad 21-15, 21-15.
Men: Sameer Verma bt Subhankar Dey 21-13, 21-14; Joo Ven Soong (Mas) bt Zin Rei Ryan Ng (Sin) 21-15, 21-14; Lim Chi Wing (Mas) bt Anand Pawar 21-16, 21-16, Sourabh Varma bt R. Satheishtharan (Mas) 21-18, 21-19.