Sunfeast Open: Rushmi, Ankita qualify for main draw

Kolkata: Indian girls Rushmi Chakravarthy and Ankita Bhambri fashioned contrasting victories in the qualifiers to make it to the main draw at the $170,000 WTA Sunfeast Open. Chakravarthy outclassed Chin-Wei Chan of Taipei while Bhambri pipped compatriot Isha Lakhani in a well-contested three setter in the qualifiers played at the Netaji Indoor stadium. With Sania Mirza and the Uberoi sisters -- Shikha and Neha -- making a direct entry in the main draw, and Sunitha Rao, a US players of Indian origin being given the wildcard entry after German Merlene Weingartner's last minute pull-out, the home crowd has a lot to cheer for in the first-ever WTA event in the metropolis. However, Sanaa Bhambri, the other Indian in the qualifier, made a tame exit going down to Chia-Jung Chuang of Taipei 1-6, 4-6. (PTI)