Korea Open: Sindhu, Srikanth lose in first round, Prannoy reaches second round

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Yeosu (South Korea). Top Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth made early exits from the Super 500 badminton tournament Korea Open after losing their respective opening round matches, here on Wednesday.

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu lost 18-21, 21-10, 13-21 to Chinese Pai Yu Po in women’s singles in her first official match under new coach Muhammad Hafeez Hashim. The appointment of the Malaysian coach was formally announced on Tuesday.

This was Sindhu’s sixth opening round exit in 12 BWF World Tour tournaments this season.

In other women’s singles, Malavika Bansod lost 17-21, 7-21 to world number four Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei. Meanwhile, Ashmita Chaliha lost 13-21, 12-21 to defending Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei of China.

Aakarshi Kashyap went down 12-21 17-21 to Chinese shuttler Zhang Yi Man while Tasnim Mir went down 11-21 18-21 to local player Kim Ga Yun. Tanya Hemnath lost 11-21, 17-21 to Saina Kawakami of Japan.

In men’s singles, former world No. 1 Srikanth went down 21-12, 22-24, 17-21 to Japan’s Kento Momota in a tight three-game contest. His compatriot HS Prannoy beat Belgium’s Julien Caraggi 21-13, 21-17 to set up a second round clash with Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu.

On the other hand, Kiran George lost 17-21, 9-21 to Chinese Taipei shuttler Wang Tzu Wei. Mithun Manjunath also lost 11-21, 4-21 to Ng Tzu Yong of Malaysia.

In mixed doubles, Rohan Kapoor and N Sikki Reddy defeated Alvin Morada and Alyssa Ysabel Leonardo of Philippines 21-17, 21-17 to enter the second round. Rohan and Sikki will next take on the fourth seeded Chinese pair of Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping.

Another mixed pair, B Sumeeth Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa, bowed out after losing 21-23 21-13 12-21 to the Korean pair of Song Hyun Cho and Lee Jung Hyun.

Prannoy and Priyanshu Rajawat (men’s singles), Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (men’s doubles), Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand (women’s doubles) and Rohan Kapoor and N Sikki Reddy (mixed doubles) are keeping the Indian challenge alive in this Super 500 event after their first round exits on Wednesday.

Satwik and Chirag won their men’s doubles first round match on Tuesday, while Treesa and Gayatri got a walkover in their opening match.(IANS)

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