Japan Open | Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy march into quarters; PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal bow out
Getty
India had a mixed day at the Japan Open as HS Prannoy beat Hsu Jen Hao and Kidambi Srikanth managed to book a place in the next round as he beat HU Yun. Meanwhile, PV Sindhu suffered a loss against Nozomi Okuhara 21-18, 21-8 and Saina Nehwal failed to overcome Carolina Marin’s challenge.
Srikanth, who managed to win back-to-back titles in Indonesia and Australia, thrashed Hu Yun in straight games of 21-12, 21-11. The Indian took half an hour to cross the Hong Kong’s challenge to enter the final eight where he will face
In another men’s singles encounter, HS Prannoy, too, secured a place in the quarterfinals after beating Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Jen Hao 21-16, 23-21. Prannoy will face World No. 2 Shi Yuqi, who beat Sameer Verma 10-21, 21-17, 21-15 today.
In the mixed doubles clash, the Indian duo of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N Sikki Reddy outclassed Japanese pair of Yuki Kaneko and Koharu Yonemoto in straight games of 21-13, 21-17 to secure safe passage into the quarterfinals.
However, it wasn't all good news for India in Japan. PV Sindhu and Nozomi Okuhara recently clashed yet again in a Superseries after playing a final in the Korea Open and the World Championships. On her home court, however, it was the 22-year-old Japanese who emerged victorious in the 47-minute match. While the first game was a light affair that the home favorite won 21-18 but was outclassed 21-8 in the second.Â
After Sindhu was ousted, it was
The mixed doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy were not able to stay alive in the competition as well. Despite putting up a strong fight, the Indonesian pair of Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto emerged victorious by a score of 29-27, 16-21, 21-12.
