Odisha sisters Rutaparna and Swetaparna Panda put up a creditable performance in the Badminton Asia Championships 2024 as they qualified for the womens doubles main draw before bowing out in the first round at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Ningbo, China today.

Rutuparna and Swetaparna lost to seventh seeds Zhang Shu Xian and Zheng Yu of China 8-21, 13-21. Playing against formidable Chinese opponents, the Odisha duo displayed glimpses of brilliance before suffering the predictable defeat due to lack of experience.

However, winning two qualifying matches and making it to the main draw should be viewed as an achievement of sorts for the Panda siblings. In the qualifying competition they beat Bangladesh pair of Urmi Akter and Nashima Khatun 21-6, 21-5 and then prevailed over Macau combination of Ng Weng Chi and Pui Chi Wa 21-18, 21-16.
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PHOTO: Undated file picture of Panda sisters, Rutaparna (Right) and Swetaparna.