by Ian Marshall, Editor

Facing Russia’s Kristina Kazantseva in her opening group stage match in the junior girls’ singles event, she recorded a four games win (11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9), prior to accounting for Egypt’s Mariam Younis (11-8, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7) and Bahrain’s Fatima Alaali (11-4, 11-6, 11-6) to secure first place in the group.

Defeat for Kristina Kazantseva but it was her only reverse; thus she secured second place in the group and progress to the main draw.

Meanwhile, in the cadet singles event, in her opening group phase contest, Yashaswini Deepak Ghorpade overcame Malamentina Papadimitriou of Greece (11-7, 11-4, 11-8), the winner earlier in the day when facing Egypt’s Hagar Shehata (11-5, 11-3, 11-7). In the concluding contest in the group Yashaswini Deepak Ghorpade meets Hagar Shehata; similarly for Malamentina Papadimitriou it is not the end of the road, runners up spot will ensure progress to the second stage.

Defeat for Kristina Kazantseva and there was also defeat for Egypt’s Alaa Yehia, the no.8 seed, she was beaten by India’s Baskar Kavya See. Otherwise, for the other leading names in the junior girls’ singles event it was first place in the group without defeat.
Also from Russia, Olga Vishniakova ended the day unbeaten and thus in first place in her group; a situation that applied also to India’s Swastika Ghosh and Anargya Manjunath as well as to Egypt’s Farida Badawy and Hana Goda.

Meanwhile, in the cadet girls’ singles competition with one match still to play, Farida Badawy alongside Hana Goda, Anargya Manjunath, Suhana Saini and Baskar Kavya See remain unbeaten.

Play in Manama concludes on Monday 11th February.