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Sindhu, Srikanth Battle Through Tough Openers at Indonesia Masters

PV Sindhu overcame a slow start to defeat Japan's Manami Suizu in straight games at the Indonesia Masters. Kidambi Srikanth edged out Koki Watanabe in a tense three-game match to also advance to the second round. Other Indian shuttlers had a mixed day, with several exiting in the first round of their respective events. Both Sindhu and Srikanth now face challenging second-round opponents in Jakarta.

Key Points: Sindhu, Srikanth Advance at Indonesia Masters Badminton

  • Sindhu wins in straight games
  • Srikanth survives three-game thriller
  • Indian qualifiers face mixed results
  • Tough second-round matches await
2 min read

Indonesia Masters: Sindhu, Srikanth through to Round of 16

PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth secure hard-fought first-round victories at the Indonesia Masters badminton tournament in Jakarta.

"Ultimately, in key moments, Srikanth's aggressive strokeplay helped him secure the win - Report"

Jakarta, Jan 21

Former world champion PV Sindhu faced a tough first-round match but ultimately secured a straight-games victory over Japan's Manami Suizu in the opening round of the Indonesia Masters here on Wednesday.

Sindhu had a surprising start in the first game, trailing 2-11 at the mid-game break. She had to defend four game points but managed to win the game 22-20, scoring six consecutive points. In the second game, she led throughout but couldn't establish a comfortable lead over Suizu until she ultimately won 21-18.

The India ace will face either Denmark's Line Kjaersfeldt or China's Han Qian Xi in the second round.

Meanwhile, former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth, who made it to the finals of the Malaysia Masters and Syed Modi International last year, faced Japan's Koki Watanabe in an exciting first-round match and edged out his Japanese opponent with a 21-15, 21-23, 24-22 victory.

After a strong start with aggressive shot-making in the opening game, Srikanth's game faltered in the second as he made errors, giving Watanabe a chance to catch up. In the third, he led 7-4 but made several errors and couldn't fully dominate Watanabe. Ultimately, in key moments, Srikanth's aggressive strokeplay helped him secure the win, keeping Watanabe at bay.

Srikanth will next face fourth seed Chou Tien Chen in the second round.

On Tuesday, Indian shuttlers Anmol Kharb and Aakarshi Kashyap secured their spots in the women's singles main draw with notable victories in the qualifying rounds. Aakarshi, however, was eliminated after losing three games in the women's singles main draw opener, and Kiran George was defeated in straight games in his men's singles opener.

The mixed doubles teams of Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto and Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gadde both fell in the first round to French pairs.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
A win is a win, but both Sindhu and Srikanth made it harder than it needed to be. Too many errors. They need to be more clinical against higher-ranked opponents like Chou Tien Chen.
P
Priya S
Srikanth's match had me on the edge of my seat! 24-22 in the third game is nerve-wracking stuff. His aggressive play under pressure is still his biggest strength. All the best for the next round!
R
Rohit P
Good to see the veterans pulling through. But we also need to focus on the younger players like Anmol Kharb who qualified. The future looks bright if we support them properly. #IndianBadminton
M
Michael C
The mixed doubles results are disappointing. We have depth in singles, but doubles continues to be a weak spot. Hope the federation is working on a long-term plan for pairs.
K
Kavya N
Wah! What a comeback by Sindhu. This shows her experience. After the injuries and comeback, she's finding her rhythm again. The entire nation is with you, champ! 🏸

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