Badminton Asia Championships: Akshay Devalkar and Jerry Pranaav knocked out in second round

Akshay Devalkar and Jerry Pranaav were eliminated in the first round in straight games

More disappointing news came the way of Indian doubles at the Badminton Asia Championships, as the men’s doubles pairing of Akshay Devalkar and Jerry Pranaav were eliminated in the second round by the Japanese duo of Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayawaka, 21-15 21-17.

Devalkar and Pranaav took an early lead in the first Game, but the Japanese pairing came back strongly into the game, winning 6 consecutive points and eventually closing out the game 21-15 in the favours.

The second game, again saw the Indians take an early lead but once again the pair of Endo and Hayawaka made a sterling comeback, winning as many consecutive points as the first Game and took it 21-17.

This is the second time in two days that an Indian doubles pair was eliminated in the first round after the women’s duo of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa were also knocked out in the first round yesterday.