Singapore Open: Indian challenge ends early as Sindhu also finds exit

Sindhu took on Chinese player He Bingjiao in their second round clash and raced into an early lead, winning the first game 21-11. But Bingjiao came back strong to take the next two games, and the match by a score of 11-21, 21-14, 21-14.

Sindhu started strong, and despite the scores being tied at 10-10 after the initial exchanges, galloped ahead winning the first game 21-11. Even in the second game, she looked dominant, soaring into a 4-0 lead, before her Chinese opponent caught up and took a slender 7-6 lead. What followed was a lopsided show as Bingjiao won 8 points in a row to reach 15-6 after which Sindhu had no chance of a comeback. In the deciding third game, the match looked to be in a deadlock at 14-14 and neither player giving any room. But that is where Bingjiao brought her A-game to court and Sindhu faded away as the Chinese won seven points on the bounce to book her tickets for the third round.

India also went into the second round with two doubles pairs still in the hunt. Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar lost out to Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan 12-21, 12-21. As if the scores weren’t embarrassing enough, the match lasted only 23 minutes to add to the Indians’ misery.

Akshay then joined N Sikki Reddy to contest in the mixed doubles but with no different fortunes. The Indian duo took on fourth seeds, Xu Chen and Ma Jin from China. After a not-so-one-sided clash, the Chinese pair won 21-15, 21-19, as Sikki-Akshay gave a good account of themselves.