India Faces Disappointment at Japan Open as Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, and Unnati Hooda Exit Early

In a challenging day for Indian badminton at the Japan Open Super 750 tournament in Tokyo, young players Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda faced tough defeats, while seasoned competitor Lakshya Sen also exited early. The trio's performance on Wednesday marked a disappointing chapter for India, especially with the World Championships approaching next month in New Delhi.

Ayush Shetty, a finalist at the recent Asia Championships, showcased remarkable determination in his match against Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn, the second seed and former world champion. The 21-year-old from Mangaluru initially struggled, losing the first game 19-21. However, he rallied back in the second game, displaying resilience to win 25-23. Despite his efforts, Ayush ultimately succumbed in the deciding game, finishing with a score of 15-21 after an intense 82-minute battle.

Unnati Hooda, currently ranked 24th in the world and a two-time champion at the Odisha Open, faced a familiar opponent in Huang Yu-Hsun from Chinese Taipei. Despite her previous experience, Unnati fell short once again, losing in three games with scores of 21-16, 16-21, and 15-21, marking her second consecutive defeat to Huang.

Meanwhile, Lakshya Sen, who was the runner-up at the All England Championships, encountered local favorite Koki Watanabe. In a match that lasted just 38 minutes, Lakshya was unable to find his rhythm, losing 16-21, 14-21. This defeat further extended Watanabe's lead in their head-to-head record to 4-3.

The early exits of these three players have raised concerns for Indian badminton, especially as the nation prepares to host the World Championships for the first time in 17 years. Currently, the hopes for India in the USD 950,000 tournament rest on two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and the mixed doubles duo of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto. Sindhu is set to face fifth seed Han Yue of China, while Kapila and Crasto will take on the top-seeded pair of Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping in their upcoming matches.