Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu provided the lone silver lining for India’s singles contingent at the Indonesia Open Super 1000 on Tuesday, marking her return to the world’s top 10 with a hard-fought opening-round victory even as compatriots Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth suffered early exits.
Sindhu, who officially climbed back to World No. 10 in the latest BWF rankings after a 31-month absence, dispatched Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan 25-23, 21-16.
However, the rest of the singles field crumbled at the Istora Senayan stadium. Former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth’s prolonged slump deepened with a 19-21, 15-21 defeat to Japan’s Yushi Tanaka. Currently languishing at World No. 37, Srikanth has now endured nine pre-second-round exits this year and has failed to cross the second-round hurdle in any tournament this season.
Commonwealth Games champion Lakshya Sen also failed to find his rhythm, stunned 19-21, 16-21 by local favorite Alwi Farhan of Indonesia. Sen, who has struggled for consistency since his All England final finish, was completely outmanoeuvred despite a quarter-final appearance at the Singapore Open last week. In the women’s singles draw, Malvika Bansod was outclassed 12-21, 10-21 by seventh-seeded Thai shuttler Pornpawee Chochuwong.
It was a bleak day in the doubles categories as well.
The premier women’s doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand bowed out tamely, losing 14-21, 12-21 to Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Meilysa Trias Puspitasari. In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto were dismantled 11-21, 10-21 by the sixth-seeded Chinese duo of Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui.
The only other Indian success came in the men’s doubles, where the unseeded combination of Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun registered a convincing 21-18, 21-10 victory over the higher-ranked Malaysian pair of Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong to reach the second round.
The likes of Ayush Shetty and HS Prannoy will begin their campaigns on Wedenesday at the prestigious Super 1000 tournament in Bangkok.
– Ends
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