Xtra Tme Web Desk: Day one of the India Open 2023 saw a major upset as star Indian shuttler PV Sindhu was knocked out in the opening round. Sindhu lost to Thailand’s Supanida Katethong in straight games by 14-21, 20-22 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Defending champions Lakshya Sen and men’s doubles combination of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty began their title defence of the India Open 2023 with comfortable victories on the opening day of the competition .
Sen defeated compatriot HS Prannoy 21-14, 21-15 in the men’s singles while Satwik and Chirag thrashed Scotland’s Christopher and Matthew Grimley 21-13, 21-15 to advance to the next round.
Sen will now take on Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke, who got the better of former World No. 1 Kento Momota of Japan 21-15, 21-11 in the first match of the day.
Among the other Indians in the fray, the women’s doubles combination of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly had to hold their nerves to get the better of the French combination of Margot Lambert and Anne Tran 22-20, 17-21, 21-18. They will next face the Chinese sixth seeded combination of Zhang Shu Xian and Zheng Yu, who defeated Ashna Roy and Haritha MH 21-4, 21-2.
Key results for India:
(Men’s singles) Lakshya Sen (IND) bt HS Prannoy (IND) 21-14, 21-15
(Women’s singles) Supanida Katethong (THA) bt PV Sindhu (IND) 21-14, 22-20
(Men’s Doubles) 5-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (IND) bt Christopher Grimley/Matthew Grimley (SCO) 21-13, 21-15
(Women’s doubles) Gayatri Gopichand/Treesa Jolly (IND) bt Margot Lambert/Anne Tran (FRA) 22-20, 17-21, 21-18; Linda Efler/Isabel Lohau (GER) bt Shruti Mishra/Sikki Reddy (IND) 21-17, 21-19; 6-Zhang Shu Xian/Zheng Yu (CHN) bt Ashna Roy/Haritha MH (IND) 21-4, 21-2.