Singapore, May 28: The Singapore Open witnessed a remarkable day for India on Thursday. Star shuttlers P.V. Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and the men’s doubles pair of Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have all secured their spots in the quarterfinals. Additionally, the mixed doubles duo of Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila also advanced to the next round.
Sindhu continued her impressive form in the tournament, achieving a commanding victory. She defeated Japan’s Riko Gunji in straight games, 21-9, 21-12, in just 37 minutes. From the outset, Sindhu dominated the match, controlling rallies and denying her opponent any chance to settle in. After overcoming Indonesia’s fifth-seeded Putri Kusuma Wardani in the first round, Sindhu maintained her momentum to reach the top eight.
However, her next challenge may be her toughest yet. Sindhu is set to face the reigning Olympic champion and world number one, An Se-young. To date, Sindhu has never defeated this player in their eight encounters.
In men’s doubles, the fourth-seeded pair of Satwik and Chirag faced a tough battle. They triumphed over the Taiwanese duo of Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan in a match that extended to three games. The Indian pair took the first game 21-15, establishing a strong hold on the match. However, their rhythm faltered in the second game, which they lost 11-21, pushing the match to a decisive game. The final game remained fiercely contested, but the Indian duo held their composure to win 21-18. They will compete against Malaysia’s Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Jing for a spot in the semifinals.
The day’s biggest upset occurred in mixed doubles, where Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila made a stunning comeback against Japan’s Maya Taguchi and Yuta Watanabe. After losing the first game 8-21, the Indian pair gradually turned the match around with aggressive net play and improved defense, ultimately winning 21-17, 21-16.
Lakshya’s journey to the quarterfinals was marked by unusual circumstances. Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn withdrew from their Round of 16 match shortly after it began, having only played two points. This unexpected turn allowed the Indian player to advance to the next round, where he will face Japan’s Koki Watanabe.
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PAK
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