On Day one of the Yonex German Open, almost all the top seeds got past the first round. Lin Dan of China had it easy against Mathias Borg of Sweden in straight sets 21-15, 21-11. World No.3, China’s World No.3 Jin Chen got past Jan Frohlich of Czech Republic rather easily at 21-9, 21-14. Japan’s World No. 6 got the better of Korea’s Ji Hoon Hong in straight sets 21-13, 21-15. However, World No. 2, Denmark’s Christian Lind Thomsen upset world No. 16, China’s Zhengming Wang in straight sets 21-12, 21-18. In other matches, Scott Evans had to retire after the first set because of injury while playing against Arvind Bhat. Arvind had won the first set 21-9. India’s Ajay Jayram lost the first set rather tamely to the World No. 11, Indonesia’s World No. 11, but came back strongly in the second set to take an early lead of 7-2 before losing out at 19-21. Anand Pawar had it easy against Eetu Heino of Finland in straight sets 21-12, 21-16. Anand plays his second round against Simon Santoso in the second round today. Parupalli Kashyap lost to 55th seed Zi Liang Derek WONG of Singapore in straight sets 15-21, 21-23. Sourbah Varma put up a brave fight against world no. 13 Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark before losing out in a thrilling 3 setter 21-19, 17-21, 15-21.
India’s mixed doubles pairs featuring Jwala Gutta and V Diju start their campaign in today’s first match.
Yonex German Open GPG Badminton tournament gets underway today. Top seed and World no. 2, Lin Dan of China starts favourite to win the Men’s title. There are as many as 4 Indians in the fray competing in the Men’s section. This would be a good build up to the All England Championship starting on 6th March. India’s doubles pair of Sanave Thomas and Rupesh Kumar would be hoping to make at least into the Quarter Finals to get an inch closer to sealing the berth for Olympics. In the Women’s section, India would be looking at P V Sindhu, World No.2 in Juniors ranking, to put up an impressive show
When the late Princess Margaret, younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II of England, asked a soft-spoken Indian footballer how he could defend so well against the tough Europeans while playing bare feet, Sailendranath (Sailen) Manna replied that the strength lay in the mind.
Manna, who marshalled the defence as the centre-back, had to tackle the question from the young royalty during a reception at the Buckingham Palace, after India had its first international outing at the London Olympics in 1948. The man, who typified the resurgence of India as a footballing nation after independence, lost his battle against a host of age-related ailments at a city nursing home in the early hours of Monday.
At 87 (born September 1, 1924), Manna's stature as a footballer remained undiminished drawing awe and reverence from generations of Indian footballers, most of whom knew him from the records and stories about him being the most complete footballer the country has ever seen. No wonder the whole football fraternity came together in an unusual show of spontaneity to pay homage to the legend, who served as an emissary to the best of Indian football.
Courtsey: The Hindu
