Kumamoto
Star Indian shuttlers P.V. Sindhu and Lakshya Sen aim to regain form as they lead India’s charge at the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500 tournament, starting today. Both players have faced recent struggles since the Paris Olympics, with Sindhu and Sen falling short in recent matches despite competitive performances.
Sindhu showed some promise by reaching the quarterfinals at the Denmark Open Super 750 but faced a tough loss against Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in a close decider. Earlier, she had an unexpected first-round exit in Finland to Canada’s Michelle Li. Reflecting on her recent form, Sindhu shared her optimism, citing her work with new coaches Anup Sridhar and Korean legend Lee Syun Il. “I’m in good shape, physically and mentally fit,” Sindhu said, adding, “We’ve worked on speed and defence, and I hope to perform well in Japan and China.”
Sindhu begins her campaign against eighth-seeded Thai player Busanan Ongbamrungphan, hoping to make a strong start.
Meanwhile, Lakshya Sen also faces his challenges, with recent early exits in Finland and Odense. He lost to Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei and Lu Guang Zu of China, raising concerns about his mental resilience. Sen’s first opponent will be Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao, with a potential second-round match against eighth-seed Anthony Ginting from Indonesia.
Also representing India in Kumamoto is the women’s doubles team of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who face Taipei’s Hsu Yin-Hui and Lin Jhih Yun in their opening round.
