Japan Open Super Series: Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu crash out; Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy advance into third round

While Sindhu and Saina bowed out losing to Okuhara and Marin, Srikanth registered a win over Hu Yun.

Indian contingent had a mixed day as women shuttlers PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal suffered straight-game defeats to Nozomi Okuhara and Carolina Marin respectively. However, Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy continued their victory march and progressed into the third round of Japan Open Super Series on Thursday. In less than month’s time, the two badminton stars faced each other for the third time, and Japan’s Okuhara got the better of Sindhu for the second time. The 22-year old Indian shuttler committed too many errors to go down 18-21, 8-21 while the former No. 1 Saina went down 21-16 21-13 to the Spaniard. In Men’s singles, Prannoy led India’s charge and was the first player to make it into the third round. While prannoy managed to upset Hsu Jen Hao, Srikanth demolished Hong Kong’s Hu Yun 21-12 21-11 within half an hour to make it to the final eight. He next faces World Champion Viktor Axelsen. Among others, the mixed doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy lost 27-29 21-16 12-21 to Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto.

Japan Open Super Series: As it happened

03:25 pm: While Sindhu and Saina went down in straight-games, it was Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy who have kept India’s hopes of a Japan Open title alive. World Champions Nozomi Okuhara outplayed Sindhu as she kept her hopes alive of winning her second title in Tokyo. Saina, on the other hand, went down 16-21, 13-21 to Carolina Marin. Another disappointment came in mixed doubles where Ashwini Ponnappa and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy failed to get better of Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto. 

03:21 pm: End of the road for Saina Nehwal as well. She goes down 16-21 13-21 against Carolina Marin

03:00 pm: Not the best of starts for Saina Nehwal. She had the advantage but Marin is brilliant in the last few points. The Spaniard takes the first set 21-16

02:49 pm: Saina Nehwal has a slender two point lead over Marin in the first game. At the changeover, Saina leads 11-9

02:44 pm: Saina Nehwal and Carolina Marin are going neck-to-neck in the first game. Tied at 8-8. Brilliant game so far

02:35 pm: Saina Nehwal and Carolina Marin are on court for their second round match in Tokyo. Can Saina reach the quarter-finals?

01:20 pm: PV Sindhu not at her best today! She goes down against Nozomi Okuhara. The Japanese player kept her game at the top level while Sindhu faulted a lot. She loses 18-21 8-21

01:10 pm: Sindhu struggling in this second game. Okuhara has raced to a 11-4 lead. She has won the first game 21-18

01:04 pm: This is not looking good for Sindhu! Okuhara has stepped up again. She leads 6-2 in the second game after winning the first one

12:55 pm: Nozomi Okuhara displays some incredible game to take the first game 21-18 against Sindhu. She took five straight points

12:45 pm: Top game from Okuhara after the break! She makes 12-11 to take the lead for the first time in this game. Another top play from Okuhara and she has now made it 15-11

12:41 pm: As usual, a small lead for one player at the break in first game. Sindhu leads Okuhara 11-9 at  the changeover

12:32 pm: Early lead for the Indian star! She has gone ahead 5-2 in the first game but don’t read too much into this now

12:25 pm: Sindhu and Okuhara are on the court for their pre-quarterfinal in women’s singles at Japan Open

12:01 pm: Just a little wait for the big match in Japan. PV Sindhu will be up against Nozomi Okuhara shortly now

11:50 am: Kidambi Srikanth moves into the quarter-final with a comprehensive win over Yun Hu. No trouble in winning 21-12 21-11

11:42 am: This looks like a cakewalk for Kidambi Srikanth now! After winning the first game, he leads 11-5 in the second game

11:35 am: Complete domination from Kidambi Srikanth! He wins first game 21-12 against Yun Hu. Brilliant play from the world number eight

11:25 am: Neck-to-neck so far in the first game between Srikanth and Yun Hu. They are tied 7-7 and looking solid in this game

11:15 am: Kidambi Srikanth will play his second match of Japan Open now! He is up against world number 28 Yun Hu

11:10 am: Not the best of days for Sameer Verma. He fought hard but bows out of Japan Open after losing to Shi Yuqi 21-10 17-21 15-21

10:40 am: Shi Yuqi just took his game to another level. Sameer tried to make a comeback but it was took late. Shi Yuqi wins the second game 21-17 to level things up

10:21 am: Sameer Verman dominating the world number two player Shi Yuqi. He wins the first game 21-10 in no time

10:05 am: Another men’s singles match now! Sameer Verma is taking on Shi Yuqi, the number two seed in the tournament.

09:57 am: HS Prannoy has done it! He beats Hsu Jen Hao 21-16 23-21 in straight games to enter men’s singles quarter-finals

09:52 am: Prannoy and Hsu Jen Hao are now tied 20-20 in the second game. The Indian had won the first game

09:32 am: Is Prannoy giving it away? Hsu Jen takes a three point lead in the second game after losing the first game. He leads 7-4

09:25 am: Good start from HS Prannoy. He wins the first game 21-16 against Jen Hao Hsu. He has played so well in this game

09:16 am: Not the best of starts for India. Satwik and Ashwini lost the final game 12-21 and go down 27-29, 21-16, 12-21 against Susanto and Jordan

08:58 am: Brilliant from Satwik and Ashwini! Comeback from the Indian pair and they are now tied 1-1 in this match. The Indian pair win the second game 21-16 to force a decider

08:45 am: There is a long way to go for the two big games for India. But, before those two matches, HS Pronnoy and Kidambi Srikanth will be in action in the men’s singles. Sameer Verma will also be playing in the men’s singles

08:40 am: What a start to the day for India! In the mixed doubles game, Satwik and Ashwini P go down fighting in a thrilling first games. They lose 27-29 against Susanto and Jordan after 27 minutes!

08:30 am: Another day, another match between Nozomi Okuhara and PV Sindhu. The two will meet in the second round in Tokyo. Saina Nehwal will be up against Carolina Marin. But HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth will get the play going in the men’s singles.