Tokyo, Japan- Indian badminton’s top talents made a strong start at the Japan Open Super 750 in Tokyo on Wednesday, with the formidable men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, alongside men’s singles star Lakshya Sen, sailing into the second round with commanding straight-game victories.
Dominant Display by Indian Doubles Duo
World No. 15 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, former world No. 1s, showcased their class by defeating Korea’s Kang Min Hyuk and Kim Dong Ju 21-18, 21-10 in a swift 42-minute encounter. After a relatively close opening game where the Koreans managed to keep pace, the Indian duo found their rhythm and asserted complete control in the second game, dominating with clinical precision to secure their spot in the next round.
Lakshya Sen Finds Form
In the men’s singles, Lakshya Sen, who has endured a patchy season marked by several early exits, appeared sharp and confident as he brushed aside China’s Wang Zheng Xing 21-11, 21-18. The world No. 18 was in full command during the first game, racing to an impressive 11-2 lead and closing it out comfortably. Although Wang Zheng Xing mounted a stronger challenge in the second game, Sen’s early momentum proved decisive, allowing him to stay ahead and wrap up the match in straight games.
Lakshya Sen will now face a tougher challenge in the round of 16, where he is set to compete against the seventh seed and local favorite, Kodai Naraoka. The strong start from both the men’s doubles pair and the singles player signals promising prospects for the Indian contingent at the Japan Open.
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