Singapore Open Highlights – Kidambi Srikanth has bowed out from the second round at the Singapore Open on Thursday, 8th June 2023. Srikanth lost to Chinese Taipei’s Lee Cha Hao 15-21, 19-21. The action on Thursday kickstarted with Priyanshu Rajawat. The Indian youngster lost to Kodai Naraoka by 21-17, 21-16. Later, India’s Men’s Doubles pair MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila also suffered straight-sets exit.
Men’s Singles
Priyanshu Rajawat lost to Kodai Naraoka – 17-21, 16-21
Kidambi Srikanth LOST TO Lee Chia-Hao – 15-21, 19-21.
Men’s Doubles
MR Arjun/Dhruv Kapila lost to Ben Lane/Sean Vendy – 15-21, 19-21
Men’s Singles
Kidambi Srikanth vs Lee Chia-Hao
The contest began with Srikanth leading by a slender marhin of 4-5. Hao soon took the next five straight points and went ahead with a 9-5 lead. Srikanth fought back but couldn’t reduce the deficit as Lee entered the mid-game interval with a two-point cushion.
Hao maintained his lead in the second half of the game an with a cross-court smash got to five match points. He won the first game 21-15 with yet another smash.
In the second game too, Hao started off with a 6-3 lead. Trailing 5-7, Srikanth bounced back and with four straight points took the lead to 9-7. He maintained the lead and a net-error from Hao helped the World No.23 enter the interval with a three-point advantage.
After the interval Srikanth took three points on the trot and went up 14-8. He took his lead to 19-12 and looked all set to win the game and take the match into the decider. However Hao made a terrific comeback in the contest. He didn’t allow the Indian to get the next two points as with a flurry of attacking stokes he went on to win the next nine straight points and won the contest in straight games.
Priyanshu Rajawat vs Kodai Naraoka
Orleans Masters champion Priyanshu Rajawat began his campaign in SIngapore with a dominant victory against World No.15 Kanta Tsuneyama. Rajawat next faces another Japanese in World No.4 Kodai Naraoka in the second round. World No.37 Rajawat hopes to continue his form and clinch another upset victory in the tournament.
Third seeded Naraoka defeated HS Prannoy 21-15, 21-19 in the first round. He enters as the favourite against Rajawat. Both the players will face each other or the first time in the tour.
MR Arjun/Dhruv Kapila vs Ben Lane/Sean Vendy
MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila will face England’s Ben Lane and Sean Vendy in the second round. The Indian pair clinched a straight game win against France’s Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar in the first round. Meanwhile the English duo defeated top seed Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto 21-15, 21-18.
Both the pairs are looking to reach the last-eight stage in a tournament this season for the second time. The head-to-head record between both the pairs stand 1-1. They last met two years ago at the Denmark Open. Arjun and Kapila won the contest in straight games.
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