new delhi, April 8
Two-time Olympic medallist P. V. Sindhu and men’s singles contenders Ayush Shetty and H. S. Prannoy kept India’s campaign on track, even as Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth exited early on a mixed opening day at the Badminton Asia Championships on Wednesday.
Sindhu faced a stern challenge in her opening-round match against Malaysia’s Wong Ling Ching before emerging victorious in a hard-fought three-game encounter. The Indian star began on a shaky note, conceding the first game 15-21 as her opponent controlled the rallies and dictated the pace. However, Sindhu quickly regrouped and raised her level in the second game, displaying better court coverage and sharper shot selection to dominate 21-11 and level the contest.
The deciding game turned into a tense and closely fought battle, with both players exchanging points and refusing to give an inch. Neither could establish a clear advantage as the score progressed evenly. At 19-19, Sindhu demonstrated her experience and composure under pressure, winning two crucial points in succession to clinch the match after one hour and seven minutes of intense play. She will next take on China’s Wang Zhi Yi in what promises to be another challenging encounter.
One of the biggest positives for India on the day was the impressive performance of young shuttler Ayush Shetty, who pulled off a significant upset by defeating China’s world No. 7 Li Shi Feng in straight games. Showing remarkable maturity and control, Shetty kept his nerves in check and executed his game plan effectively against a higher-ranked opponent. His ability to sustain rallies and capitalise on key opportunities proved decisive as he secured a convincing win to advance to the pre-quarterfinals. He is now set to face Chinese Taipei’s Chi Yu Jen for a place in the last eight.
H. S. Prannoy also progressed to the next round, though not without a tough fight against Vietnam’s Nguyen Hai Dang. The opening game was a closely contested affair, with both players battling point for point. Prannoy had to dig deep and save multiple game points before narrowly edging the game 24-22. Buoyed by that effort, he carried the momentum into the second game, where he tightened his grip on the match and maintained consistent pressure to close it out comfortably 21-12. He will next face China’s Weng Hong Yang.
In contrast, Lakshya Sen’s campaign came to an early end after a straight-game defeat to Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu. Coming into the tournament with confidence following a strong performance at the All England Championships, Lakshya struggled to find rhythm in the opening game and went down 12-21. He showed signs of improvement in the second game and pushed his opponent more effectively, but Lee’s composure and precision at key moments helped him seal the match 21-19 in 41 minutes.
Former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth also bowed out after a three-game loss to Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew. Srikanth made a positive start, taking the opening game 21-18 with a steady and controlled display. However, Loh responded strongly in the second game, dominating proceedings to win 21-9 and shift the momentum firmly in his favour. He continued that aggressive approach in the decider, sealing it 21-11 and ending Srikanth’s run in the tournament.
Elsewhere, India suffered setbacks in women’s singles as Malvika Bansod and Tanvi Sharma exited the competition after straight-game defeats, rounding off a day of mixed results for the Indian contingent.
