Badminton

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India's Lakshya Sen's impressive run at the Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament came to an end in the quarterfinals, as he succumbed to a hard-fought defeat against world no.5 Anders Antonsen of Denmark. The match, which lasted for an hour and one minute, saw Sen put up a valiant effort but ultimately fell short, losing 22-24, 18-21.The first game was a closely contested affair, with both players showcasing their exceptional skills. Sen, known for his quick reflexes and aggressive play, matched Antonsen's power and precision. The game went down to the wire, with both players tied at 22-22. However, it was Antonsen who managed to secure the crucial points, taking the game 24-22.The second game followed a similar pattern, with both players refusing to give an inch. Sen displayed his determination and resilience, fighting back from an early deficit to level the scores at 18-18. However, Antonsen's experience and composure proved to be the difference, as he capitalized on Sen's unforced errors to seal the game 21-18.Despite the defeat, Sen's performance at the Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament was a testament to his growing stature in the badminton world. The 21-year-old Indian has consistently performed at a high level in recent months, and his quarterfinal appearance in Jakarta is a further indication of his potential.Antonsen, on the other hand, continues to be a formidable force in the men's singles circuit. The Danish shuttler has won several major titles in his career, including the 2020 European Championships and the 2021 BWF World Tour Finals. His victory over Sen extends his head-to-head record against the Indian to 3-2.In the semifinals, Antonsen will face eighth seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand. Vitidsarn has also been in impressive form this season, having won the Thailand Open Super 500 tournament in May. The match promises to be another exciting encounter, with both players looking to secure a place in the final.

Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen emerged as the lone beacon of hope for India at the Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament, securing a spot in the men's singles quarterfinals with a dominant victory over Japan's Kenta Nishimoto. Sen's impressive 21-9, 21-15 triumph in the pre-quarterfinal match showcased his exceptional skills and determination.However, the tournament proved to be a disappointment for India's women's doubles teams. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand bowed out after a hard-fought battle against Japan's Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara, losing 21-19, 19-21, 19-21 in the Round-of-16. Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa also suffered a setback, falling to South Korea's Ha Na Baek and So-Hee Lee 21-13, 19-21, 21-13.In the mixed doubles category, B Sumeeth Reddy and Sikki Reddy were unable to overcome the challenge of China's Siwei Zheng and Yaqiong Huang, losing 21-9, 21-11 in a lopsided contest.Priyansh Rajawat displayed commendable resilience in the men's singles, putting up a valiant fight against reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand. Despite losing 10-21, 17-21, Rajawat showcased his potential by pushing his formidable opponent to the limit in the second game.

India's star shuttler P.V. Sindhu suffered a disappointing first-round exit at the Indonesia Open on Wednesday, losing to Hsu Wen-chi of Chinese Taipei in a thrilling three-game encounter. The match marked Sindhu's first defeat to Wen-chi and her earliest exit from the BWF Super 1000 tournament.Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist and former world champion, struggled to find her rhythm against the determined Taiwanese shuttler. Wen-chi took the first game 21-15, but Sindhu fought back to win the second 21-15. However, Wen-chi regained control in the decider, securing a 21-14 victory and ending Sindhu's hopes of a deep run in the tournament.The match lasted for an hour and 10 minutes, with Wen-chi showcasing her impressive defense and powerful smashes. Sindhu, known for her aggressive style, was unable to impose her game on her opponent.In other news from the Indonesia Open, the Indian women's doubles pair of Rutaparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda also suffered a setback. They lost to the sixth-seeded Korean duo of Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong in the round of 32, going down 12-21, 9-21.Sindhu's early exit from the Indonesia Open is a setback for the Indian badminton contingent. However, the tournament continues with several other Indian shuttlers still in contention, including Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen, and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in the men's doubles.

Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen made a strong start to the Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament, securing a straight-game victory over Japan's Kanta Tsuneyama in the men's singles first round. Sen dominated the match, taking just 40 minutes to dispatch Tsuneyama 21-12, 21-17.Sen's victory sets up a second-round clash with either seventh seed Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia or Japan's Kenta Nishimoto. The Indian shuttler has been in impressive form recently, reaching the semifinals of both the French Open and All England Championships, which earned him a spot in the Olympic qualification.However, it was a disappointing day for Kiran George in the men's singles event. Despite putting up a valiant fight, George fell to Hong Yang Weng of China in a thrilling three-game battle, losing 21-11, 10-21, 20-22.In the mixed doubles, the Indian pair of B Sumeeth Reddy and Sikki Reddy overcame a tough challenge from the American duo of Vinson Chiu and Jennie Gai, winning 18-21, 21-16, 21-17. They will now face a formidable task in the next round, taking on either top seeds Si Wei Zheng and Ya Qiong Huang of China or the Indonesian combination of Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto and Lisa Ayu Kusumawati.Later in the day, the Indian women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will face Yu-Pei Cheng and Yu Hsing Sun of Chinese Taipei, while former world no.1 HS Prannoy will take on Priyanshu Rajawat in an all-Indian men's singles opening round contest.

Para-badminton star Aarti Patil has made a triumphant return to the international circuit, securing a bronze medal at the Bahrain Para-Badminton tournament after a lengthy absence due to a leg injury. Her impressive performance has propelled her up the world rankings, but she remains determined to reach the top 10 by August to qualify for Level 1 tournaments on the BWF circuit.Patil's journey back to the court has been marked by resilience and determination. Since her last international appearance at the BWF World Championship in Thailand in February, she has undergone rehabilitation and rigorous training to regain her form. Her efforts paid off in Bahrain, where she reached the semifinals in the women's SU5 category before falling to compatriot Manisha Ramadass.Despite the setback, Patil's performance has boosted her world ranking by six spots to 14th. However, she recognizes the need to climb further to achieve her goals. "I need to be in the top-12 to play the Level BWF tournaments, and that is my next target," she said. "But more importantly, I am focused on doing my best at the Asian Championship and next year's World Championship and working towards that goal."Patil's aspirations are supported by the Punit Balan Group, which has committed to providing financial assistance for three years. This support has eased the financial burden of competing in international tournaments, allowing Patil to focus on her training and performance."The cost of competing in these international tournaments has been increasing, and it is only thanks to the financial assistance from the Punit Balan group that I could afford to play in the World Championship and this tournament," Patil said. "I am looking forward to playing in Uganda and changing the color of my medal."Patil's journey is an inspiration to aspiring para-athletes. Her determination, resilience, and unwavering support from her sponsors demonstrate the power of perseverance and the importance of financial support in achieving sporting excellence.

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand's remarkable run at the Singapore Open came to a halt in the semifinals, as they succumbed to a straight-game defeat against the formidable Japanese duo of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida. The unseeded Indians, who had stunned top-10 opponents in the previous rounds, were outplayed by the World No. 4 pair, who secured a 23-21, 21-11 victory in 47 minutes.The first game witnessed a spirited fightback from Treesa and Gayatri, who rallied from a 5-10 deficit to level the score at 16-16. However, Matsuyama and Shida maintained their composure and earned a game point at 20-18. The Indian duo displayed resilience, saving two game points to tie the game at 21-21. Nevertheless, the Japanese pair regained their momentum and clinched the first game.The second game proved to be a one-sided affair, as Matsuyama and Shida dominated from the outset. They surged to a commanding 20-6 lead before allowing the Indians to briefly reduce the deficit. However, the gap proved insurmountable, and the Japanese duo sealed their place in the final.Treesa and Gayatri's impressive run at the Singapore Open included victories over World No. 2 Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee in the pre-quarters and World No. 6 Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Young in the quarters. Their performance showcased their potential and underlined their growing stature in the international badminton circuit.Despite the setback in the semifinals, Treesa and Gayatri have demonstrated their ability to compete against the world's best. Their bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games and their consistent performances on the BWF World Tour Super 750 circuit are a testament to their hard work and dedication.

Indian women's doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand continue to shine at the BWF World Tour Super 750 event in Malaysia, reaching their first-ever semifinal at this level. The duo, ranked 30th in the world, displayed resilience and determination to overcome the challenge of world no. 6 Korean pair Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong in a thrilling quarterfinal encounter.After dropping the first game 18-21, Treesa and Gayatri fought back to win the second game 21-19. The third game was a nail-biter, with both pairs trading points and the lead changing hands several times. However, the Indians held their nerve to secure a 24-22 victory and book their place in the semifinals.Their victory is a testament to their hard work and dedication, as they have consistently performed well in recent tournaments. Earlier in the tournament, they defeated the world no. 2 Korean pair of Baek Na Ha and Lee So Hee in the Round of 16.Treesa and Gayatri are the only Indians remaining in the tournament, as ace shuttler PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy were eliminated in the women's singles and men's singles second round, respectively.The Indian pair will face the winner of the second quarterfinal between Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shifa of Japan and Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti of Indonesia in the semifinals on Saturday.

PV Sindhu's Singapore Open campaign came to an end on Thursday as she suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Carolina Marin in the women's singles pre-quarterfinals. The Indian shuttler, fresh from her runner-up finish at the Thailand Open, took the opening game against her Rio Olympics final nemesis, but the Spaniard bounced back to win 21-13 11-21 20-22 in a thrilling one-hour, eight-minute battle.Sindhu, facing Marin for the first time in seven months after their heated Denmark Open semifinal clash, started strongly, reeling off five successive points to take the opening game. However, the Spaniard, ranked third in the world, responded with a dominant second game, winning six points on the trot to take a 17-7 lead and eventually level the match.The decider was a tense affair, with Sindhu maintaining a narrow lead throughout. However, Marin, known for her resilience and fighting spirit, made a stunning comeback, winning the final four points to seal her 12th career win from 17th matches against the Indian.Sindhu's defeat marks the end of her Singapore Open campaign, but she will take heart from her strong performance in the opening game and her overall form in recent weeks. The Indian shuttler has been in impressive form since the start of the year, reaching the semifinals of the All England Open and the finals of the Thailand Open.Marin, meanwhile, will be confident heading into the quarterfinals, where she will face Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong. The Spaniard is a two-time Olympic medalist and a three-time world champion, and she will be looking to add to her impressive trophy cabinet in Singapore.