Date:20/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/20/stories/2008032060042400.htm

Sport - Badminton

Favourable draw for Chetan

Principal Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Reigning National champion Chetan Anand has got a favourable draw for the prestigious $1,20,000 prize-money Yonex-Sunrise Indian Open Gold Grand Prix badminton championship, which begins at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium here from April 1.

Releasing the draw here on Wednesday, India’s chief coach Pullela Gopichand said Chetan will be tested only in the third round where he faces World No. 23 Ronald Susilo, who is on a comeback trail after an injury.

Arvind Bhat, after getting a bye, will take on fourth-seeded Korean Sung Hwan Park. Local star P. Kashyap will take on Singaporean Yong Zheo Asheon Chen and is likely to face his Statemate Guru Sai Dutt if he clears the first hurdle.

Gopi said National women’s champion Saina Nehawal will take on World No. 23 Yu Hirayama of Japan in the first round and Trupti Murgunde will meet No. 2 seed Lan Lu of China in the first round.