The Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024, a BWF World Tour Super 500 series badminton event, witnessed a mix of victory and defeat for India on Wednesday. The tournament is being held at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium.
P.V. Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, secured a win in her first-round match. Sindhu, aiming to clinch the women’s singles title, triumphed over eighth seed Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand. The match, which took place on Court 1, concluded in 52 minutes with a score of 21-12, 21-8 in favor of Sindhu.
Lakshya Sen, who reached the semifinals at the Paris Olympic Games, faced disappointment as he exited the men’s singles draw. Sen’s journey ended in a hard-fought three-game battle against Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao, with a final score of 22-20, 17-21, 16-21. The match lasted for 74 minutes.
The tournament had already witnessed the early exit of India’s top women’s doubles pair, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who were defeated in the first round on Tuesday.
Sindhu, currently ranked 20th in the BWF Rankings, is determined to break her 24-month title drought. Her last victory came at the Singapore Open in 2022. However, her match against Ongbamrungphan did not begin smoothly.
Ongbamrungphan took an early lead, surging ahead to 5-1. Sindhu, however, showcased her resilience, gradually clawing her way back into the game. By the break, Sindhu had turned the tables, leading 11-10.
The second game saw Sindhu maintain her momentum. She raced to a 4-0 lead before Ongbamrungphan managed to secure her first point. Despite Ongbamrungphan’s attempts to stage a comeback, Sindhu remained in control, displaying exceptional form and rhythm. She went on to win 11 of the final 12 points, securing a comfortable victory.
Sindhu’s next challenge awaits in the second round, where she is scheduled to face Michelle Li of Canada. Li advanced to the second round after defeating Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira in straight games.
Sen’s match against Leong Jun Hao, which unfolded on Court 4, began with promise. Despite trailing 13-16 at one point, Sen rallied to win the first game 22-20.
The subsequent games, however, proved to be a different story. Sen struggled to maintain the same level of composure.
In the second game, Sen found himself trailing 1-4 but managed to level the score at 6-6. Leong Jun Hao, however, regained control, establishing a 11-7 lead. Despite a late surge by Sen, Leong Jun Hao held on to win the game 21-17.
The final game saw Sen hold a marginal advantage for a period. Leong Jun Hao, however, remained persistent, eventually seizing control in the crucial final stages. He won the last five points, turning a 17-16 scoreline into a 21-16 victory, securing the match and ending Sen’s campaign.
