Yonex Japan Open Super Series 2013: Indian challenge comes to an end

Ajay Jayaram

The Indian challenge has come to an Indian at the Japan Open Super Series as all three Indians in action today crashed out at the quarter-finals.

HS Prannoy, K Srikanth and Ajay Jayaram were all in action today. There were no Indian women’s players after PV Sindhu crashed out in the second round to a Japanese qualifier, and Tanvi Lad lost in the first round itself.

First up today was HS Prannoy, up against Gao Huan of China.

World No.32 ranked Huan won the first set comfortably against the 56th ranked Indian 21-11.

However, Prannoy, who had beaten World No.13 Wing Ki Wong of China in the second round, came back strongly to win the second set. In a closely fought set, Prannoy prevailed 22-20 over Huan.

The third set started off equally tight, but as the match went past the hour mark, Prannoy faltered and handed Huan the initiative, who wrapped the decider and the match 21-13. The final score line read 21-11, 20-22, 13-21 in favour of Gao.

Next up was K Srikanth, against Kenichi Tago of Japan.

Tago is ranked World No.5, and he proved to be simply too tough for the Indian, who is ranked World No. 39.

Tago gathered points in chunks and lead 11-5 at the break in the first game. Srikanth tried to make a comeback, bringing it as close as 16-18, before Tago wrapped up the set 21-18.

The second set was more lopsided as Tago simply dominated the Indian and won the second set even more comfortably 21-9. The final scoreline read 21-18, 21-9.

In the final match of the day, Ajay Jayaram, the highest ranked Indian in the men’s section, took on Tien Minh Nguyen of Vietnam.

Jayaram is ranked No.30 compared to Nguyen’s No.8 ranking, but the Indian had beaten Nguyen twice in the IBL last month, and would surely have been confident of another win.

It seemed so, as Jayaram started off well, taking a 11-6 lead at the break in the first set. However, Nguyen then started his comeback, keeping the game tight. Leading 18-15 in the first set, Jayaram went to pieces, as the Japanese reeled off six points in a row to take the first set 21-18.

In the second set, Nguyen took command early and took a 11-4 lead. Even after the break, he gave Jayaram no chances and dominated throughout to comfortably wrap up the set 21-13. The final scoreline read 21-18, 21-13 in favour of Nguyen.

Although it was a disappointing day for the Indians, they can take heart out of their performances against much higher ranked opponents.