Sindhu cruises into 2nd round as Indian challenge falters at Singapore Open

THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK

Singapore, May 27: PV Sindhu made a commanding start to her Singapore Open Super 750 campaign on Tuesday, defeating Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang in straight games to enter the second round. The two-time Olympic medallist needed just 31 minutes to register a 21-14, 21-9 win.

However, the day proved grim for the rest of the Indian squad, with multiple first-round exits across singles and doubles events. Malvika Bansod, Priyanshu Rajawat, Kiran George, Anmol Kharb, and R. Santhosh Ramraj were all eliminated in their opening matches.

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Sindhu now faces a stern challenge in the second round against world No. 5 and reigning Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei of China.

Among those who showed early promise but couldn’t sustain momentum were Malvika and Priyanshu, both of whom lost after clinching the opening game. Malvika was ousted by Thailand’s eighth seed Supanida Katethong 21-14, 18-21, 11-21, while Priyanshu went down fighting to Japan’s Kodai Naraoka 21-14, 10-21, 14-21 in a match lasting over an hour.

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In other men’s singles clashes, Kiran George, who had reached the India Open quarters earlier this year, lost to China’s Weng Hong Yang 19-21, 17-21. R. Santhosh Ramraj was comprehensively beaten by South Korea’s Kim Ga Eun 14-21, 8-21.

Anmol Kharb was outclassed in the first game by China’s Chen but fought back valiantly before losing 11-21, 22-24 in a spirited effort.

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The doubles category also brought no relief. In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto fell 18-21, 13-21 to China’s Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi. Meanwhile, Ashith Surya and Amrutha Parmuthesh were knocked out by Japan’s Yuichi Shimogami and Sayaka Hobara 11-21, 17-21.

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