WTT Singapore Smash: Manav advances to the main draw; Manush, Sathiyan exit

Indian paddler Manav Thakkar booked his spot in the main draw of the Singapore Smash, the first Grand Smash event of the year, at Singapore Sports Hub on Saturday.

He was the only men's singles player to register a win in the final qualifying round as both Manush Shah and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran had a disappointing end to their campaign.

Manav will now join India's No 1 Sharath Kamal as the second Indian player in the main draw of the men's singles category.

Sharath, because of his rankings, had a direct spot in the main draw of the event.

The 24-year-old Manav showed his class and dominated the final qualifying round clash against Cheng-Ting Liao of Chinese Taipei to clinch a straight-game 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 13-11) win to qualify for the main draw.

Liao forced a deuce in the third game of the match but couldn't finish it and gave away an easy victory to Manav. The young Indian will now take on Koen Pang of Singapore in the first round tomorrow.

On the other hand, the recently crowned national champion Manush Shah had a pale end as he lost his match in 8-11, 4-11, 12-14 in straight games to Milosz Redzimski of Poland.

Meanwhile, the experienced paddler Sathiyan Gnanasekaran fought bravely before going down to Liam Pitchford of England 13-11, 7-1, 7-11, 11-9, 8-11 in a high-intensity five-game thriller.

Yashwini Ghodpade in women's singles main draw

Yashaswini was India's only representative in the final qualifying round of the women's singles category and she took this further ahead to confirm her spot in the main draw.

She had a dominating 3-0 win against Polish paddler Katarzyna Wegryzn, confirming her ticket to the main draw. She will join Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula in the women's singles category.