The 2021 World Championships bronze medallist Lakshya Sen registered his first win of the season as he took down China’s Weng Hong Yang 24-22, 21-15 within the opening spherical of the 2024 Indonesia Masters Tremendous 500 on Wednesday.
Sen, who had suffered first-round exits on the Malaysia Open in addition to the India Open earlier this month, fought again from 12-19 down within the first sport en-route his straight-games win.
The Chinese language shuttler, who’s ranked two locations above Sen within the newest world rankings on the seventeenth spot, additionally had three sport factors at 20-17, however didn’t capitalise because the 22-year-old Indian got here from behind to pocket the primary sport 24-22.
Sen carried ahead the momentum within the second sport as he raced to an 11-7 lead on the mid-game interval. Although Yang threatened to struggle again, decreasing the deficit to at least one level at 10-11, the Indian discovered methods to run away with the match in 51 minutes.
This comes as a much-needed victory for Sen, who has a mountain to climb, so as to make it to the 2024 Paris Olympics, earlier than the qualification interval ends on April 28.
The win towards Yang, additionally marked the primary win within the World Tour circuit for the reason that 2023 World Championships in August for Sen, who has since confronted a slew of first spherical exits.
#IndonesiaMasters2024
A a lot wanted win for Lakshya Sen as he beats Weng Hong Yang 24-22, 21-15.
First win of the season for the Indian and first win within the World Tour circuit for the reason that World C’ships in August final 12 months. Hopefully many extra on the playing cards in subsequent few months. pic.twitter.com/L3h9beBDVl
— Abhijit Nair (@Abhiee0312) January 24, 2024
Kiran George, Priyanshu Rajawat win
Earlier within the day, Kiran George shocked France’s Toma Junior Popov in a come from behind victory. The Indian prevailed 18-21, 21-16, 21-19 towards the next ranked opponent in a contest that lasted 72 minutes on the Istora Senayan.
The win continues a superb run of type this week for Kiran, who had defeated Alex Lanier and Shesar Hiren Rhustavito within the qualification quarter-final and the qualification Spherical of 16 respectively.
Each the qualification spherical matches have been laborious fought battles for Kiran, who defeated Lanier 12-21, 21-18, 22-20 in 64 minutes earlier than taking down Rhustavito 21-17, 12-21, 21-15 to enter the primary attract Jakarta.
Priyanshu Rajawat made it three Indians within the second spherical when he beat Rasmus Gemke 21-18, 21-19. The Danish participant, no 29 on this planet rankings, is only one place above the Indian and the minor distinction between the rankings confirmed within the 45-minute match.
The primary sport was extremely shut with each gamers preserving tempo with one another, however Rajawat had a 11-8 lead on the interval. Gemke then went on a five-point successful streak after the break to stage issues at 12-all earlier than taking a slim 13-12 lead for the second time within the match. However the Indian didn’t let that faze him and maintained a slender hole to clinch the primary sport 21-18.
The second sport was even nearer with Rajawat having a 11-9 lead heading into the interval. Gemke would as soon as once more struggle again to carry the scoreline stage after the break, however Rajawat’s steadiness noticed him progress into the second spherical after a stable straight-game win.
HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth exit
In the meantime, the top-ranked Indian shuttler HS Prannoy suffered an early exit as he went down 18-21, 21-19, 10-21 to a lower-ranked Loh Kean Yew of Singapore within the opening spherical.
Prannoy’s early exit comes simply days after his semi-final end on the 2024 India Open Tremendous 750 in entrance of the house crowd in Delhi final week.
The world No 8 seemed to be in good contact as he trailed 8-11 earlier than the change of sides within the decider however fizzled out drastically as Yew ran away with the match, successful the ultimate few factors with ease.
It was one other first-round exit for Kidambi Srikanth who misplaced 21-19, 14-21, 11-21 to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia, ranked world No 10.
Srikanth had beforehand misplaced within the opening spherical of the India Open final week to Rajawat in Delhi.
The previous world No 1 practically threw away a four-point lead on the interval within the first sport when Lee fought again to 19-20, just for Srikanth to carry on and win the primary sport 21-19.
Nevertheless, the Malaysian started the second sport in a powerful vogue, occurring a seven-point successful streak to enter the interval with a 11-4 lead. He would proceed to take care of that seven-point hole to win the second sport 21-14 and stage the match at 1-game all.
Within the remaining and deciding sport, Srikanth tried to maintain tempo with Lee within the opening exchanges, however went into the break trailing 7-11. In the long run, the prowess of the world No 10 proved too robust for Srikanth who solely scored 4 extra factors earlier than Lee received 21-11.
