Pictured: Keith Edison, Australia.
Players from Australia and New Zealand continue to tour the globe in search of valuable world ranking points in the midst of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualification period, which end on 26 April 2020.
This week, two International Challenge events are taking place in Ireland (AIG FZ FORZA Irish Open 2019) and Nepal (YONEX – SUNRISE Nepal International Challenge 2019)
Across the two events, there was mixed success for the players in action on day one, including a first-round exit for some of Australia’s top Men’s Singles players, but a confident display from the first seeds Gronya Somerville and Setyana Mapasa.
YONEX – SUNRISE Nepal International Challenge 2019
- Saharsh Mohan (IND) vs Pit Seng Low (AUS) 21-9 18-21 21-13
- Kartikey Gulshan Kumar (IND) vs Anthony Joe (AUS) 21-7 21-11
- Henrikho Kho Wibowo (INA) vs Daniel Fan (AUS) 21-11 21-11
- Keith Mark Edison (AUS) vs Sunil Joshi (NEP) 22-20 21-11
- Setyana Mapasa/Gronya Somerville (AUS)[1] vs Saranchana Chaikittiwat/Supissara Paewsampran (THA) 21-11 21-18
- Hsuan-Yu Wendy Chen (AUS)[5] vs Alina Sultana (BAN) 21-11 21-16
Gronya Somerville will also take on the Mixed Doubles draw as the fourth seed alongside Simon Leung on day two. Leung is also in the Men’s Doubles draw as the second seed with fellow compatriot, Mitchell Wheller.
Follow the draw and results from the YONEX – SUNRISE Nepal International Challenge 2019 on Tournament Software.
AIG FZ FORZA Irish Open 2019
The Men’s Singles qualification rounds opened day one at the AIG FZ Forza Irish Open 2019.
Australia’s reigning National Champion, Jacob Scheuler, was one of the first players in action, seeing off the challenge from Scotland’s Joshua Apiliga. Unfortunately, Scheuler was later forced to withdraw from his second-round qualification match as he pulled his hamstring while recovering from a fall.
- Jacob Schueler (AUS) vs Joshua Apiliga (SCO) 21-18 21-16
- Jack O’Brien (IRL) vs Jacob Schueler (AUS) Walkover
Elsewhere in the huge Men’s Singles qualification draw (spanning a draw of 64), Adam Dolman was defeated by this year’s BWF World Junior Championships runner-up, Christo Popov. Meanwhile, Andrew Rouse wasn’t able to progress beyond the second round of qualification:
- Christo Popov (FRA) vs Adam Dolman (AUS) 21-12 21-13
- Andrew Rouse (NZL) vs Declan Bennett (IRL) 21-13 21-14
- Max Weisskirchen (GER) vs Andrew Rouse (AUS) 21-8 21-15
New Zealand’s Abhinav Manota (originally first seed in the men’s singles qualifications) was promoted to the main draw, therefore won’t be in action until day two where he will also join forces with fellow compatriot, Oliver Leydon-Davis, in the Men’s Doubles draw. Oliver will later team up with Anona Pak in the Mixed Doubles.
Similarly, Australia’s Louisa Ma will open her Women’s Singles campaign on day two.
Follow the draw and results from the AIG FZ Forza Irish Open 2019 on Tournament Software.
