Japan Open | Kidambi Srikanth wins battle of Indians
In an unfortunate draw for India, Kidambi Srikanth defeated Parupalli Kashyap in a thrilling three-setter to advance into the second round of the Japan Open. However, he will face another Indian Ajay Jayaram in the next round, while H S Prannoy as well advanced into the next round.
Parupalli Kashyap had labored through the qualifiers only to set up a clash with higher-ranked compatriot Kidambi Srikanth in his very first round of the main draw. Things began well for Kashyap who wrested the first set against Srikanth after lagging behind until midway. Kashyap took the lead at 11-10 and ran away with five straight points before closing out the set at 21-14.
However, Srikanth dominated the second set after taking the lead at 5-5 to win it 21-14 to set up a third set. Srikanth, who has been in mercurial form over the year, showed it once again as he slumped to a 1-7 score early on. At one point, Kashyap looked set to win the match with a lead of 18-11, but Srikanth rallied to make eight straight points to reach 19-18, and then won it 23-21 on his second match point.
Srikanth will face compatriot Ajay Jayaram in the next round. Ajay had defeated Sony Kuncoro in straight sets 21-19, 23-21 to enter the second round.
The other Indian in the fray, H S Prannoy Zainuddin won a see-saw three-setter against Malaysia's Iskandar Zulkarnain 23-21, 19-21, 21-18 to enter the second round. However, Prannoy faces a tough challenge in the next round as he lines up against second seed Viktor Axelsen.