Two-time Olympics medalist P. V. Sindhu and H.S. Prannoy conquered tough challenges in the first round of the Badminton Asia Championships. Sindhu faced a hard-fought battle against Malaysia’s Wong Ling Ching, eventually securing victory in three games after a tense final set.
On the other hand, Lakshya Sen faced an unexpected exit after being defeated in straight games by Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu. Despite a stronger challenge in the second game, Lakshya couldn’t overcome Lee’s control in crucial moments.
Meanwhile, Prannoy advanced to the next round with a straight-games victory over Nguyen Hai Dang. He displayed a strong performance, winning the first game after saving multiple game points and dominating the second game.
Kidambi Srikanth, however, bowed out after a tough match against former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore. Despite a strong start, Srikanth couldn’t maintain his momentum, leading to his defeat in three games.
India’s standout performance came from Ayush Shetty, who defeated World No. 7 Li Shi Feng in straight games. Shetty’s victory propelled him to the pre-quarterfinals, where he will face Chi Yu Jen of Taipei for a spot in the quarterfinals.
In women’s singles, India faced setbacks as Malvika Bansod and Tanvi Sharma exited the tournament following straight-game defeats.
