Kumamoto Masters: Lakshya, Srikanth secure contrasting wins in opening round

Lakshya Sen got his Kumamoto Masters campaign off to a flying start and extended his winning streak on the BWF Tour. The eighth seed defeated world No. 24 Chi Yu Jen of Chinese Taipei in straight games in the men’s singles round of 32. Meanwhile, his compatriot and senior fighter Kidambi Srikanth secured a hard-fought victory over Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke in the Super 500 on Wednesday.

Sen, who missed last week’s Korea Masters, won last month’s Hylo Open Super 500. The World No. 13 trailed 12-16 in the opening game but rallied back 21-19. The second game was another tight affair, but Sen showed composure in the crucial moments to win 21-18 and avoid being dragged to a decider in his opening match.

Sen showed patience and composure when it mattered, resisting the temptation to go for outright winners. Instead, he was content to keep the rally going, making his opponents work for every point and forcing errors from the Taiwanese shuttler.

Sen will next face China’s Dong Tian Yao, who is ranked No.45 in the world, before a potential quarter-final showdown against fourth seed Victor Lai of Canada.

SRIKANTH SAVES THE POINTS

Meanwhile, Srikanth produced a gritty performance to save two match points against Gemke and win their opening round match 18-21, 21-16, 24-22 in one hour and eight minutes.

The former world number one has struggled for consistency this year. After the final of the US Open Super 300 in June, Srikanth made it to the quarter-finals of the China Masters Super 750 in September. However, he suffered early exits during the European leg before arriving in Kumamoto as one of two Indian men’s singles teams.

Srikanth faces a tough test in the second round where he will face local favorite Kodai Naraoka of Japan. The former world No. 1 has faced the eighth-seeded Japanese shuttler four times in his career but is yet to record a victory. Their last meeting took place in 2024.

There is no Indian representation in the women’s singles draw in the Super 500 tournament.

In the men’s doubles, Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun will face the local pair of Takuro Hoki, Yugo Kobayashi in the second round.

In the women’s doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will take on third seeds Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi. The Indian pair will take confidence from their crucial Round of 16 victory over the Japanese duo at the World Cup in Delhi ahead of Thursday’s encounter.

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