Shuttler Ratchanok not to defend India Open title

New Delhi: Reigning world badminton champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand will not be defending her India Open Super Series women’s singles title as she has withdrawn her entry.

The current World No.4 cited medical reasons for skipping the $250,000 event which will be underway from Tuesday at the Siri Fort Sports Complex. “She sent a mail saying that she will not be playing due to medical reasons,” tournament chief referee Isabelle Jobard of France told IANS here Monday also affirming that she was the only withdrawal from the category. However, some top men’s singles players will also skip the April 1-6 tourney. Third seed and World No.3 Kenichi Tago of Japan, fifth seeded Thai Boonsak Ponsana and Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto have all withdrawn their respective entries. “Most of them mentioned medical reasons,” added Isabelle. From men’s doubles, Russian pair Vladimir Ivanov-Ivan Sozonov and Chinese combine Chai Biao-Hong Wei will skip the tournament. Women’s doubles competitions also got a blow as Chinese third seeds and World No.3 pair Yixin Bao and Jinhua Tang have also pulled out along with Russia’s Anastasia Chervaykov and Nina Vislova. In mixed doubles, China’s Yixin Bao-Liu Cheng and Russian Vitalij Durkin-Nina Vislova have decided not to participate here. Three men’s singles players, two pairs from women’s doubles and another pair of mixed doubles have confirmed their withdrawal from the qualifiers which are to be played Tuesday. The main draw starts Wednesday.