Rohan Castellino created a major surprise when he ousted last year's champion Thomas Kurian in three games to enter the men's singles pre-quarter-finals in the US $10,000 Indian International Badminton tournament, at the suburban Goregaon Sports Club, in Mumbai, on Wednesday.
Kerala shuttler Kurian, who has done precious little since winning the tournament last year when it was called the Asian Satellite circuit event, was beaten by the Bangalore-based Castellino 21-14, 17-21, 21-17 in the second round.
Kurian had got past Iran's Ali Hoseini Shah in straight games in the opening round.
Castellino moved up for a next round meeting with Korean fifth seed Cheol Ho Lee, who ousted Bangladesh's Ahsun Bahib in straight games in another second round tie.
Another young and promising Indian shuttler who made an early exit was Bangalore's J B S Vidhadhar. He appeared listless while going down to Iran's Gholamreza Bagheri 21-16, 14-21, 21-17.
Top seed Chetan Anand was given a tough time by former top national player Sachin Ratti, who came through the qualifiers, before recording a straight games victory and joining
Castellino in the pre-quarters.
Anand got past Ratti 24-22, 21-18 to set up a meeting with compatriot and former national champion Abhinn Shyam Gupta, who outclassed Sri Lanka's Dinuka Karunaratne in two straight games in the second round clash.