Shuttlers Sindhu, Jayaram lose in Japan Open

Tokyo, Sep 20 - The Indian challenge ended at the Japan Open Super Series badminton here after Ajay Jayaram and P.V. Sindhu both lost their respective second round matches Thursday.

In women’s singles, World No.20 Sindhu went down to South Korean fourth seed Yeon Ju Bae 21-10, 12-21, 18-21 in 52 minutes at the Yoyogi National Stadium.

In the first game, Sindhu demolished the World No.11. The Indian took an 8-0 lead from where she did not look back and sealed the game in no time.

It was a neck-and-neck contest in the second game with the scores tied at 10-all. But Bae gave nothing away and found legs to take the must-win game.

Bae got off to a flier in the third (12-4). However, Sindhu clawed back to save two match points and closed the scoreline to 18-20.

A crucial smash then earned the Korean an entry into the quarter-finals round.

Mumbai’s Jayaram also lost to Malaysia’s Wei Feng Chong in straight games in the last game of the day. The Indian fell 16-21, 16-21 in 35 minutes.

Both shuttlers had reached the semi-finals of the China Masters Super Series last week.