Yunus Alamsyah and Ratnasari Fransiska get top billing at Tata Open badminton tournament

Indonesians Yunus Alamsyah and Ratnasari Fransiska have received the top billing in the men’s and women’s section respectively for the Tata Open badminton tournament starting on Tuesday at the Cricket Club of India here in Mumbai.

Alamsyah reached the semifinal of the India Open Grand Prix held in Hyderabad last week. Fransiska lost in the women’s final at the same tournament.

Indian challenge will be led by Ajay Jayaram, who is second seed in the men’s section. Meanwhile, in the women’s section, fourth-seeded Trupti Murgunde will be the star attraction from the country.

Tuesday will see the men’s singles qualifying rounds with eight players advancing to the 32-man tournament commencing from Wednesday.

Alamsyah will face India’s Aditya Prakash in the first round while Jayaram would clash with Indonesian Arif Ramadhan.

The other seeded Indians in the main draw are Anand Pawar, Arvind Bhat and Anup Sridhar. Third seed Pawar and fourth seed Bhat will lock horns with a qualifier, eighth seed Sridhar would meet Malaysia’s Misbun Ramdan, son of legendary Misbun Sidek.
Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto, son of former world champion Icuk Sugiarto, Russian Stanislav Pukhov and Singapore’s Wong Zi Derek are seeded between from 5 to 7 in men’s the singles.

In women’s singles, Trupti has been given a first round bye along with top seed Fransiska, second seed Jindapol Nitchaon of Thailand and third seed Ana Rovita of Indonesia.

Top seedings

Men’s singles
1. Alamsyah Yunus (INA)
2. Ajay Jayaram (IND)
3. Anand Pawar (IND)
4. Arvind Bhat (IND)
5. Tommy Sugiarto (INA)
Women’s singles
1. Fransiska Ratnasari (INA)
2. Nitchaon Jindapol (THA)
3. Ana Rovita (INA)
4. Trupti Murgunde (IND)