Riyan Malhan and Mitulsaran Udayan booked their spots in the semi-finals of the boys’ singles under-9 years category with straight games victory in the 40th India Club UAE Open Badminton Tournament 2017.

At the badminton courts of India Club, Malhan advanced by defeating Evan Jacob Mathew 21-4, 21-5 while Udayan defeated Arjun Jose 23-21, 21-10.

In another U9 match, Noel Cherian Jacob beat Hariharan Sundarapandian 21-13, 21-8.

In the boys’ singles under 11, Aman Sengupta moved into the quarter-finals after defeating Nisarg Thunga 21-4, 21-9, while Mohammed Fardeen had an easy time with a 21-2, 21-1 win over Mohamed Salman.

Thunga, however, advanced in the higher U13 category with a 21-6, 21-5 win over Gagan Mahadikar.

In other U134 matches played on the day, Farhan Siyad, Anwin Krishna and Ahmed Armen Shaji were also winners in two games. Siyad defeated Tanishq Mahimkar 21-7, 21-5, Krishna got the better of Aditya Rajakumar 21-11, 21-19, while Shaji wrapped up his match against Aravind Krishnan quickly with a 21-3, 21-4 result.

The most interesting match in the boys’ singles under 11 was played between Virat Desai and Atchuthan Damodharan. Virat lost the first game 6-21, but stormed back to win the next two 21-19, 21-14.

In the girls’ singles under 13 years, Mishti Bradoo defeated Anvitha Vijay in a hard-fought match 21-17, 21-18, while Sakshi Prakash had a comparatively easier time against Purva Mahadikar, winning 21-14, 21-8.

Devika Malhan moved ahead in girls’ under 11 years singles by defeating Riya Dhamale 21-9, 21-16, but Gianna Fernandes and Sreya Binesh needed three games to defeat their opponents. Fernandes beat Samaika Soni 21-18, 11-21, 21-16, while Binesh got the better of Taralaxmi Karthikeyan 21-16, 16-21, 21-13.