Malaysia Masters: Lakshya, Prannoy lose in opening round
Kuala Lumpur, May 20
Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy's Malaysia Masters 2026 campaigns ended on Wednesday as they crashed out in the opening round at the Stadium Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.
Paris Olympics 2024 semifinalist Lakshya, India's top men's singles player, was stunned by Zaki Ubaidillah of Indonesia in the opening rounds by 21-17, 21-11 in straight games, as per Olympics.com.
The world number 38 and Lakshya were level 14-all in the opening game, but the Indonesian raced ahead and sealed the game in 43 minutes.
HS Prannoy, who secured the Malaysia Masters title back in 2023, lost to Japan's world number nine Kodai Naraoka in a one-hour, 20-minute marathon.
After losing the opening game, Prannoy saved the match point, forcing a decider, and the Indian shuttler fumbled four points there, losing by 17-21, 22-20, 22-24.
Tharun Mannepalli also lost from an advantageous position by 21-17, 14-21, 8-21 against Chinese Taipei's Wang Po-Wei, while Kiran George was forced to retire midway through his match against seventh seed Alex Lanier of France - ranked world number 10. The series of exits ended the men's challenge of the Indian contingent in Malaysia.
Malvika Bansod kept the Indian campaign alive in the women's singles competition, beating German Olympian Yvonne Li 21-17, 16-21, 21-9 in a match that lasted an hour. Ashmita Chaliha, who emerged in the main draw through qualifiers, reached the second round with a 21-16, 21-13 victory over Indonesia's Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan.
Devika Sihag also made inroads in the tournament, beating South Korea's Park Ga Eun 19-21, 21-18, 21-19 in a thriller. Anmol Kharb, lost 21-13, 16-21, 19-21 in a close match against Danish eighth seed Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt. Also, Tanya Hemnath lost to Chinese Taipei's Huang Ching Ping 21-19, 21-7.
Tanvi Sharma continued the string of losses for India with a 21-10, 21-19 loss against Thailand's Pitchamon Opatniputh. Isharani Baruah also lost 17-21, 21-14, 18-21 against Danish fifth seed Line Christophersen.
Shifting focus to women's doubles competition, Rutaparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda's 21-7, 21-6 defeat to Japanese second seeds Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi - the world No. 7 duo - ended India's challenge in the doubles.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Tough day for Indian badminton. But I'm impressed by how our women's singles are stepping up—Malvika, Ashmita, and Devika all winning their first rounds! It's a shift from the men dominating to the women leading the charge. Tanya Hemnath losing to Huang Ching Ping showed the gap in experience needs to be bridged. Good exposure for them though.
Lakshya Sen's form is worrying. After that amazing run in Paris, he looks lost on court sometimes. Zaki Ubaidillah is no pushover—Indonesia has depth—but losing 21-11 in the second game suggests fitness issues. Our doubles scene is practically non-existent. Panda sisters going down 21-7, 21-6 shows India needs to invest in doubles coaching urgently. Just sticking to singles won't produce medals.
Oh no, our men's challenge is over! But look at the women's side—Ashmita Chaliha coming through qualifiers to win in straight games is brilliant! And Devika Sihag's three-game thriller against a Korean player shows real heart. Even Anmol Kharb pushed a seeded Dane to three games. The next generation is knocking on the door. Just need more tournaments to gain consistency. Better luck next week at Singapore Open!
Respect to Prannoy for that fight. Saving match point and then losing by just two points in the decider—those are the margins that haunt players. He's been dealing with injuries through his career, and to still compete like this is incredible. The depth in Indian men's singles is lacking though. Tharun Mannepalli leading 21-17 then losing the next two games 14-21, 8-21 suggests stamina issues. These players need physio support similar to what the top seeds get.
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