The 2024 Indonesia Open Super 1000 witnessed contrasting fortunes for Indian badminton players on Thursday, June 6. Rising star Lakshya Sen, on his path to the 2024 Paris Olympics, dominated his match against Japan's Kenta Nishimoto.
Sen Soars, Crasto & Ponnappa Fall Short
Sen cruised to a comfortable straight-game victory (21-9, 21-15) in just 45 minutes, showcasing his exceptional form. He now gears up to face Denmark's Anders Antonsen in the quarter-finals, aiming for a spot in the semi-finals.
The women's doubles pair of Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa, however, couldn't clinch victory. They fought valiantly against the world No. 2 South Korean duo of Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee but fell short in a thrilling encounter. Despite winning the second game (21-19), they couldn't maintain momentum and ultimately conceded the match 13-21, 21-19, 13-21.
Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa, the nation's 20th ranked women's doubles pair, displayed impressive resilience. After a shaky start and a first-game loss against the world No. 2 South Korean duo, they fought back valiantly in the second game, forcing a decider. However, their efforts weren't enough to overcome the higher-ranked team. The South Koreans capitalized on Indian errors, ultimately securing the match victory 13-21, 21-19, 13-21.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand's campaign ends
Earlier in the day, another Indian women's doubles team, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, also fell short. They engaged in a thrilling three-game battle against the Japanese pair of Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara but couldn't cross the finish line. Despite a strong showing, they narrowly lost the match 21-19, 19-21, 19-21.
The mixed doubles pairing of Sumeeth Reddy and Sikki Reddy also suffered a setback. They faced a dominant performance by the world No. 1 team from China, Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong. The Chinese pair showed their supremacy, defeating the Indian duo in straight games 9-21, 11-21 within a swift 24 minutes. However, the day wasn't without a glimmer of hope. Later in the day, Priyanshu Rajawat is scheduled to face the reigning world champion, Kunlavut Vitidsarn. This match promises to be an exciting encounter, offering Rajawat a chance to showcase his skills against the very best.
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