Changzhou, July 22: In an exciting turn of events at the China Open on Wednesday, top Indian badminton stars Lakshya Sen, PV Sindhu, and Ayush Shetty secured their spots in the second round. Lakshya faced a tough challenge against Japan’s Yushi Tanaka, winning the match with scores of 22-20, 15-21, 21-14. Meanwhile, Sindhu overcame her compatriot Unnati Hooda with a scoreline of 21-14, 9-21, 21-10.
Ayush Shetty also made headlines by defeating Indonesia’s World No. 11 Alvi Farhan in a thrilling match, clinching victory with scores of 21-17, 5-21, 21-17 to advance to the ‘Round of 16’. All three players showcased their skills by winning their respective matches in the decisive games.
Sindhu’s match against Unnati Hooda was particularly intense, lasting 56 minutes before she emerged victorious. Her next challenge will be against China’s fourth seed and former Olympic champion Chen Yufei in the second round.
For Ayush Shetty, this day was memorable as he avenged his earlier loss to Alvi Farhan in the semifinals of the 2023 World Junior Championships. After winning the first game with disciplined and aggressive play, he faced pressure in the second game but made a remarkable comeback in the final game, demonstrating composure to secure one of the best victories of his career.
However, it was a disappointing day for India in the doubles events. The mixed doubles pair of Rohan Kapoor and Rutvika Shivani Gadde lost to the top-seeded duo of Yan Zhe Feng and Dong Ping Huang in straight games, 21-9, 21-16. Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Krasto were also eliminated by China’s Xin Wa Guo and Fang Hui Chen, losing 18-21, 18-21. In men’s doubles, M.R. Arjun and Hariharan Amashakaran fell to the fourth-seeded pair of Wei Kang Liang and Chang Wang, with scores of 21-16, 21-7, ending India’s challenge in this event.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
