Defending champion Lakshya Sen and former champion Saina Nehwal suffered losses in the second round of the India Open Super 750 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday to bring an end to the Indian challenge.
Sen won the opening game of the men’s singles contest but Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke fought back by engaging the Indian in long rallies to win 16-21, 21-15, 21-18 in the World Tour Super 750 event. Later, Saina lost to Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei of China 21-9, 21-12 in the women’s singles second round clash.
In the quarter-finals, Gemke will now face top seed and compatriot Viktor Axelsen, who got the better of China’s Shi Yu Qi 21-16, 16-21, 21-9 earlier in the day.
Also advancing to the next round were fourth seed Jonatan Christie of Indonesia, third seed Loh Kean Yew of Singapore and fifth seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei in men’s singles and top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, Spaniard Carolina Marin and He Bingjiao of China in women’s singles.
Lakshya rues poor start to decider
The second round clash between Sen and Gemke kept the spectators glued to their seats in the decider as Sen fought back from 8-14 deficit to make it 13-14….