Korea Open | India’s challenge ends as Parupalli Kashyap loses to Kento Momota
India’s inspiring run at the BWF Korea Open finally came to an end as veteran Parupalli Kashyap lost to World No.1 Kento Momota in straight sets. After all the other shuttlers had been sent home packing very early on in the tournament, Kashyap was the sole Indian standing and looked quite in form.
Kashyap wasn’t exactly the favourite to win the match against the Japanese, having previously lost all their last three meetings. And Momota only extended his dominance over the Indian yet again with 21-13, 21-15 win.Â
However, that didn’t stop Kashyap from coming out all guns blazing against two-time world champion on Saturday. The Indian started off quite well initially to comeback and level 2-2 before taking four straight points to make it 5-4 in his favour. However, that didn’t stop Momota to take a four-point lead at the break.
The passive way to deal with Momota didn’t go as planned as Kashyap soon saw numerous unforced errors even after the break and Momota extended the lead to 14-8 and then to 17-10, and consequently, Kashyap lost the first game 13-21.
The second game was expected to be tight and the Indian looked to stage a fight-back as he came back from 3-9 to pick three straight points and close the deficit to 7-9. However, Momota turned on the heat soon and took six straight points from thereon.
Momota earned six match points with Kashyap saving one with a good smash. However, Momota eventually sealed the match 21-13, 21-15 in just 40 minutes. He would be facing Chou Tien Chen in the next round.