Indian paddlers handed tough draws

Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra

India paddlers were on Wednesday handed tough draws at the Tokyo Olympics with the mixed doubles pairing of Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra pitted against third seeds Lin Yun-ju and Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei on Saturday.

Batra, ranked 62, though got an easy first round where she will face Great Britain's Ho Tin-Tin, ranked 32 places below. The Indian, should she win the opening round, will lock horns with Ukraine's Margaryta Pesotska next.

In the men's draw, Sharath and G Sathiyan seeded 20th and 26th respectively, received first round byes. Their opponents for the second round will depend on winners from first round matches. However, the going will not be easy for the duo as Sharath is slated to meet Rio Olympics champion China's Ma Long, seeded second, in the third round should the Indian win his Round Two match.

Sharath is scheduled to take on either Portugal's Tiago Apolonia or Nigeria's Olajide Omotayo in Round Two on Monday. Sathiyan, on the other hand, will meet either Puerto Rico's Brian Afanador or Hong Kong's Lam Siu Hang in his Round Two tie on Sunday.

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