Indians bounced back after first game loss, dominating next two sets to win the match convincingly
Hong Kong
India’s campaign at the Hong Kong Open Super 500 turned bright on Thursday as shuttlers Lakshya Sen and the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty stormed into the quarterfinals with determined victories.
Lakshya Sen, ranked 20th in the world, ended a six-month wait by entering his first BWF World Tour singles quarterfinal since March. He defeated fellow Indian HS Prannoy 15-21, 21-18, 21-10 in a spirited comeback. Prannoy started strong, easily taking the opening game and leading in the second, but Lakshya fought back with sharp smashes and quick footwork. In the decider, Prannoy committed several errors, which allowed Lakshya to dominate and close out the match confidently. The 23-year-old, who finished fourth at the Paris Olympics, has faced injuries and patchy form this year. He will now face either Japan’s Kodai Naraoka or India’s Ayush Shetty in the quarterfinal.
In doubles, Satwik and Chirag, fresh from their bronze medal at the World Championships, battled past Thailand’s Chaloempon Sukphun and Nanthakarn Teeraratsakul. After dropping the first game 18-21, the Indians regrouped and took charge in the second game, winning 21-15. The third game saw them dominate right from the start, building a strong 7-2 lead and eventually sealing the contest 21-11.
The world No. 9 duo showed great resilience and tactical brilliance, leaving the Thai pair struggling to match their pace. They will now face Malaysia’s Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap in the last eight.
With these wins, India’s hopes at the Hong Kong Open remain alive and promising.
