Yonex Open Japan 2013: Matches of Indian players at a glance

Parupalli Kashyap

The YONEX Open Japan 2013 is scheduled from 17 September 2013 to 22 September 2013 and the matches will be played at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Prize money worth USD 200,000 will be at stake in this tournament. The tournament started in the year 1984 and no Indian player or pair has been able to win a title in any of the categories of Yonex Open Japan in its almost 30-year long journey.

Women’s Singles Category:

Only two players will be representing India in the Wwomen’s singles category.

P. V. Sindhu will be leading the Indian challenge in the absence of star shuttler Saina Nehwal. P. V. Sindhu will be facing two qualifiers in her first two rounds and it is expected that she would ease through to the quarter-finals of this tournament. Olympic Champion and World No.1 Li Xuerui of China is expected to meet P. V. Sindhu in the quarter-finals. Indian fans would be expecting a spectacular show from the World Championship bronze medallist and eight-seeded Sindhu in the absence of Saina Nehwal. Though Sindhu has been successful in defeating the Chinese top-seeded player Li Xuerui in the past but still a spectacular combat is expected if they get a chance to face each other in the quarter-finals of women’s singles category.

The other player to represent India in women’s singles category is Tanvi Lad from Mumbai who currently ranks 77 in the world. This Mumbai girl will be locking horns with Japanese Sayaka Takahashi who ranks 20 in the world.

Men’s Singles Category:

The Indian players in the men’s singles category have a higher heap to climb as they have been given a tough draw in their category. After being a vital member of Hyderabad Hotshots in their inaugural Indian Badminton League (IBL) title, Parupalli Kashyap who ranks 13 in the world will be battling against the Japanese smasher Sho Sasaki. Though the World No.22 has been successful in defeating this Hyderabad shuttler on both the previous occasions, a tight-encounter is expected in this tournament. Not only this, but if Parupalli Kashyap manages to defeat Sho Sasaki for the first time, he will be clashing with Chen Long – the second-seed Chinese player in the second round.

R. M. V. Gurusaidutt – the World No. 20 will also have a difficult opening match against the higher ranked Indonesia player Sony Dwi Kuncoro.

Sourabh Verma will comparatively have a simpler first round as he will be facing a qualifier, whereas B. Sai Praneeth – the emerging Indian talent – will be up against eighth seed Hu Yun of Hong Kong.

The Mumbai youngster, Ajay Jayaram, will be challenging Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei in his first round. If Ajay Jayaram manages to defeat this Chinese Taipei player, he will be facing Boonsak Ponsana – the fourth seed from Thailand in the pre-quarters.

Men’s Doubles Category:

As far as the men’s doubles category is concerned, two pairs namely B. Sumeet Reddy-Manu Attri and Pranaav Jerry Chopra-Akshay Dewalkar will be leading the Indian challenge in this category of the tournament.

Women’s Doubles & Mixed Doubles:

No Indian pair will be representing the nation in women’s doubles and mixed doubles category of the tournament.