New Zealand Open: Lakshya Sen enters main draw

The 17-year-old Indian shuttler beats compatriot Ajay Jayaram and Teck Zhi Soo in the qualifying round.

Lakshya Sen will faces Wang Tzu Wei in the first round of the main draw.

India’s Lakshya Sen made it to the main draw of the New Zealand Open with wins over compatriot Ajay Jayaram and Malaysia’s Teck Zhi Soo in his qualifying-round contests.

In the first qualifying contest, against Jayaram, Lakshya showed determination to eke out a 21-18, 21-13 win. He pipped his more accomplished opponent in 31 minutes. In the subsequent contest, he defeated Zhi Soo 21-11, 21-12 in 32 minutes.

In the first round of the main draw, the 17-year-old shuttler will be up against Wang Tzu Wei of Chinese Taipei.

Kashyap bows out

P. Kashyap, another Indian in the fray on Tuesday, failed to make it to the main round as he lost his second qualifying match. Kashyap put up an impressive show in his first contest of the qualifying round, beating Peter Yan of Australia 21-8, 21-9 in 26 minutes. He went down to Sun Feixiang of China 21-16, 21-18 in the next contest; the contest lasted 42 minutes.

The main draw will commence on Wednesday.