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Injured Bhatia retires from final qualifier.

Injured Bhatia retires from final qualifier

Bengaluru, 21 January, 2025   

Hamstring niggle ended Riya Bhatia’s hopes of making the main draw of the KPB Trust Women’s Open at the KSLTA courts here on Tuesday.

Bhatia, who had strapping on her left thigh, retired from her final qualifying match against Dalila Jakupovic. The Indian had lost the opening set 1-6 and was trailing 1-2 in the second set against the third-seeded Slovenian before retiring.

The 27-year-old Bhatia, the only Indian to make the second round of the biggest-ever ITF event in the country, had called the trainer on court after the loss of the opening set.

For the next 20-odd minutes, the wildcard entrant matched Jakupovic in shot-making. But midway through the fourth game, the niggle flared up again and Bhatia, struggling with her movement, decided to retire. In her first match on Monday, Bhatia was hampered by an adductor injury. Bhatia, however, returned six hours later to play her main draw doubles opener with partner Zeel Desai.

Joining Jakupovic in the main draw were Priska Madelyn Nugroho, Janice Tjen, Tina Nadine Smith, Petra Marcinko, Iryna Shymanovich, Maria Kozyreva and Daria Kudashova.

Earlier, the final qualifier began after a brief opening ceremony. Dollu Kunitha artistes enthralled a small gathering with their high-energy performance.

The country’s biggest ITF tournament is sponsored by KPB Family Trust, Dafa News, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, Oriental Lotus, MSIL and Vaia Climate.

Results (Final qualifying round): Dalila Jakupovic (Slo) bt Riya Bhatia (Ind) 6-1, 2-1 (retd.); Priska Madelyn Nugroho (Ina) bt Anastasia Tikhonova (Rus) 6-1, 1-6, 6-4; Janice Tjen (Ina) bt Mei Yamaguchi (Jpn) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3; Tina Nadine Smith (Aus) bt Saki Imamura (Jpn) 6-4, 6-2; Petra Marcinko (Cro) bt Alice Robbe (Fra) 7-5, 7-6 (10-8); Iryna Shymanovich (Blr) bt Naho Sato (Jpn) 1-6, 7-5, 6-4; Maria Kozyreva (Rus) bt Fangran Tian (Chn) 5-7, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2; Daria Kudashova (Rus) bt Amina Anshba (Rus) 7-6 (7-4), 7-5.


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