Indonesia Masters 2023: Lakshya Sen, Saina Nehwal progress to second round

Indian shuttlers Lakshya Sen and Saina Nehwal made an impressive start at the Indonesia Masters Super 500 tournament, advancing to the second round with contrasting wins on Wednesday.

Published : Jan 25, 2023 15:52 IST

India’s Lakshya Sen in action.
India’s Lakshya Sen in action. | Photo Credit: AP
infoIcon

India’s Lakshya Sen in action. | Photo Credit: AP

India’s HS Prannoy faltered in the opening round, but compatriots Lakshya Sen and Saina Nehwal made an impressive start at the Indonesia Masters Super 500 tournament, advancing to the second round of singles events with contrasting wins on Wednesday.

World No. 12 Sen, who had a subdued start to the new season with early exits from Malaysia and India in the last two weeks, dished out a superlative performance to outwit Japan’s new sensation, Kodai Naraoka, 21-12, 21-11 in his opening match.

London Games bronze medallist Saina, who had reached the second round at India Open, eked out a 21-15, 17-21, 21-15 win over Chinese Taipei’s Pai Yu Po to make it to the pre-quarterfinals.

Seventh seed Sen will face Malaysia’s Ng Tze Yong next, while Saina takes on the winner of the match between two Chinese, Zhang Yi Man and eighth seed Han Yue.

World No. 9 Prannoy suffered a second successive first-round exit, losing 19-21, 10-21 to Japan’s Kanta Tsuneyama. He had reached the semifinals of Malaysia Super 1000 but lost in the opening round of India Open last week.

Former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth continued to flatter to deceive as he blew a 18-15 lead and two game points in the second game to lose 10-21, 22-24 in 39 minutes.

Priyanshu Rajawat also couldn’t extend his entry into the main draw, going down 21-18, 18-21, 18-21 to Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo of Indonesia in the first round.

In the women’s singles, Malvika Bansod was no match for fifth-seeded Thai Ratchanok Intanon as she lost 15-21, 13-21, while Aakarshi Kashyap bowed out after suffering a 17-21, 15-21 loss against Clara Azurmendi of Spain.

The mixed doubles pair of Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto also couldn’t cross the opening hurdle, losing 16-21, 15-21, to third seed France combination of Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue.

Rohan Kapoor and N Sikki Reddy also went down 21-12, 21-23, 16-21, to Indonesia’s Jafar Hidayatullah and Aisyah Salsabila Putri Pranata.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment