Picture Credit: Twitter
The BWF World Championships has reached a crucial level with the Indian star shuttlers in Kidambi Srikanth and PV Sindhu bowing out of the tournament. While Srikanth suffered a first round exit on Day 1 of the competition, Day 2 saw two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu crash out of the event.
On the other hand, World No. 9 HS Prannoy sailed into the third round after beating his Indonesian opponent 21-9, 21-14 on August 22. The 31-year-old outclassed Chico Aura Dwi Wardoto in 36 minutes to enter Round 3. Prannoy, meanwhile, will next face 2021 champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore next.
Compatriot Lakshya Sen also advanced into the third round of the World Championships with a win over Korea’s Jeon Hyeok Jin in the men’s singles category on August 22 in Copenhagen. Sen dominated his Korean opponent to seal the game in two straight sets 21-11, 21-12. The 11th seeded is likely to take on Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand.
PV Sindhu bow out
After Kidambi Srikanth, PV Sindhu also made an early exit from the event, extending his unfortunate streak. She was defeated 14-21, 14-21 in a subdued manner to Nozomi Okuhara of Japan. With this loss, it is the first instance that Sindhu has not advanced into the quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships.
Talking about the other Indian shuttlers, the mixed doubles pair of Venkat Gaurav Prasad and Juhi Dewangan were outclassed by their German opponent 21-12, 21-11. Even the women’s doubles pair of Ashwini Bhat and Shikha Gautam lost to the Netherlands duo 21-14, 11-21, 21-14.
