It was a disappointing day for the Indian shuttlers on Day 2 of the Japan Open Super Series played today. The top seed Saina Nehwal was knocked out of the second round by Mitani while Prannoy too lost to Lee.
In women’s singles Saina Nehwal took on Mitani. In the first game, Saina Nehwal started well taking a 3-1 lead and then 5-2 lead for Saina. Mitani fought back well to reduce the gap to 5-7. Mitani took 2 more points to level the score at 7-7. For the first time, Mitani took the lead at 9-8. At the interval, Mitani led 11-8. After the interval, Mitani dominated Saina Nehwal and never allowed the Indian player to come back into the game. Mitani won the first game 21-13. In the second game, Saina Nehwal began well taking 5 successive points for a 5-0 lead. Saina Nehwal took a commanding 8-2 lead. At the interval, Saina Nehwal led 11-5. After the interval, Mitani took 3 successive points to reduce the gap to 8-11 and took another 2 points to reduce the gap to only 1 point. Saina Nehwal led 14-12, but Mitani attacked Saina Nehwal and knocked the top seed out of the tournament. Mitani won the second game 21-16.
In men’s singles, HS Prannoy lost to Lee Dong in straight sets 9-21,16-21. In the first game, the Korean dominated right from the start. The Korean took a commanding 8-2 lead. At the interval, Lee lead 11-4. After the interval, Lee continued to dominate and won the first game 21-9. In the second game, Lee started on the same note and took a 7-4 lead. At the interval, Lee lead 11-8. After the interval, Lee did not allow the Indian to come back in the match and won the second game 21-16.
In other men’s singles, Kashyap took on K Srikanth. In the first game, Kashyap started well taking a 3-2 lead. K Srikanth also played well. Kashyap led at the interval 11-7. After the interval, Kashayp played an attacking game and scored points in succession to win the first game 21-11. In the second game, it was close as Kashyap took an 8-7 lead before K Srikanth took a slender of 9-8. At the interval, K Srikanth led 11-8. After the interval, Srikanth continued his dominance and took 15-9 lead. Srikanth was leading 17-13, but Kashyap fought back from 17-19 down to make a comeback and win the second game 21-19 to enter the quarter-finals of Japan Open Super Series.