Indian badminton players have yet to hit their stride on the international circuit, with a series of early exits at the prestigious Indonesia Masters Super 500 tournament in Jakarta. On Thursday, top players including Lakshya Sen and the men’s doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty faced disappointing defeats in the second round.
Lakshya Sen’s Struggles Continue
“Lakshya Sen’s journey at the Indonesia Masters came to a halt as he struggled against Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto,” marking another setback in what has been a turbulent period for the world number 10.
Sen, who is a seasoned competitor with an Asian Games silver and Commonwealth Games gold to his name, fell short in a gripping three-game encounter. The match lasted 50 minutes, with Sen losing 16-21, 21-12, 21-23. After dropping the first game, Sen bounced back in the second, showcasing his skill with aggressive smashes and sharp strokeplay. However, Nishimoto’s relentless rallying and Sen’s struggle with the drift in the third game ultimately decided the outcome.
Satwik and Chirag’s Tough Exit
The star men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also faced a heartbreaking second-round exit. After stellar performances in recent tournaments, including back-to-back semifinal appearances at the Malaysia Super 1000 and India Super 750, they were narrowly defeated by Thailand’s Kittinupong Kedren and Dechapol Puavaranukroh in two tightly contested games. The final score was 20-22, 21-23.
“We gave our best, but the Thai pair was just too consistent,” said Satwik after their defeat, expressing disappointment but also optimism for the upcoming challenges.
Mixed Doubles Upset: Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto
Earlier in the day, the mixed doubles pairing of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also faced an early exit. After taking the lead in the first game, they were unable to maintain their momentum, losing 21-18, 15-21, 19-21 against Malaysia’s Pang Ron Hoo and Su Yin Cheng.
Despite their impressive start, the Indian duo struggled with the intensity of their opponents in the following games, ultimately falling short.
Sen’s Decider Drama
Sen, who had made a strong comeback in the second game, saw his momentum falter in the deciding game. Despite trailing 1-5 early, he kept up the pressure, fighting back to 7-7. However, a series of errors and Nishimoto’s quick rallies handed the Japanese player a lead at the final break, and Sen couldn’t recover, eventually losing 21-23 in the final game.
Women’s Doubles to Look Out For
Later on, Tanisha Crasto and seasoned veteran Ashwini Ponnappa are set to compete in their second-round match against the Malaysian duo of Pei Kee Go and Mei Xing Teoh, aiming to put India back on the scoreboard.
Early Exits for PV Sindhu and Priyanshu Rajawat
The disappointing day in Jakarta began with early exits from two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and rising men’s singles player Priyanshu Rajawat. Both players faced stiff competition in the opening round, bowing out earlier than expected.
