Tokyo: Indian badminton stars HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen showcased their brilliance on the court at the Japan Open 2023 badminton tournament, securing victories that propelled them to the men’s singles quarterfinals.
HS Prannoy emerged victorious against compatriot Kidambi Srikanth in a thrilling three-game match. Ranked 10th in the men’s singles badminton rankings, Prannoy had to overcome a strong challenge from world No. 20 Srikanth. The pulsating contest saw both players exhibit their exceptional skills, but it was Prannoy who ultimately triumphed, staging a remarkable comeback after dropping the opening game. He secured the match with a comprehensive margin of 19-21, 21-9, and 21-9 in 57 minutes.
This victory marked HS Prannoy’s third win over Kidambi Srikanth in their nine head-to-head meetings. Interestingly, Prannoy’s last triumph against his senior compatriot came at the 2019 Japan Open, adding an extra layer of significance to their latest encounter.
Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games 2022 champion Lakshya Sen displayed his prowess on the court with a dominant performance against Japan’s Kanta Tsuneyama. Lakshya sailed through the round of 16 match, defeating Tsuneyama with a commanding 21-14, 21-16 scoreline. The young Indian shuttler exhibited his relentless drive and precise strokes, setting up an intriguing quarterfinal clash against Japan’s Kiko Watanabe.
In the men’s doubles category, the dynamic duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty continued their impressive form after clinching the Korea Open title last week. The Indian pair defeated the Danish duo of Jeppe Bay and Lasse Molhede with a scoreline of 21-17, 21-11, showcasing their synchronised play and tactical brilliance. The duo’s next challenge will be against the reigning Olympic champions, Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin of Chinese Taipei, in what promises to be an enthralling quarterfinal showdown.
While there were moments of triumph for Indian players, the women’s doubles duo of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand faced a tough battle against Japan’s Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida. Despite their spirited efforts, the Indian shuttlers fell short in a closely fought match, ending with a score of 23-21, 21-19, in favour of the Japanese pair.
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