Indonesia Masters 2023 badminton: Lakshya Sen, Saina Nehwal advance; Kidambi Srikanth out

Indian badminton players Lakshya Sen and Saina Nehwal made the second round of the Indonesia Masters 2023 in Jakarta on Wednesday but Kidambi Srikanth crashed out in the first round.

Commonwealth Games champion Lakshya Sen hardly broke a sweat and dispatched Japanese shuttler Kodai Naraoka, who made the final of the Malaysia Open earlier this week, by a 21-12, 21-11 scoreline in his men’s singles round of 32 match.

In the round of 16, the seventh-seeded Lakshya Sen will go up against Malaysia’s NG Tze Yong, who ousted Denmark’s Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus in straight games in his opening round clash.

Meanwhile, former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth’s torrid form continued as he lost 10-21, 22-24 to Indonesia’s Shesar Hiren Rhustavito. The Indian shuttler, a world championships silver medallist, has made first round exits from all three tournaments he has played so far this year - the Malaysia Open, India Open and now the Indonesia Masters.

HS Prannoy, the eighth seed in men’s singles, crashed out after after losing to Japan's Kanta Tsuneyama 19-21, 10-21.

In women’s singles, Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal also successfully crossed her first round hurdle after downing Chinese Taipei’s Pai Yu Po 21-15, 17-21, 21-15.

The Indian cruised past her opponent in the first game but squandered an 8-0 lead to lose the second. In the decider, Saina Nehwal will face eighth-seed Yue Han in the next round.

Malvika Bansod made an early exit from the women's singles competition after losing 15-21, 13-21 to Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon.

Other Day 2 results for Indian badminton players at Indonesia Masters 2023

Men’s singles

Priyanshu Rajawat (India) lost to Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo (Indonesia) 18-21, 21-18, 21-18

Women’s singles

Aakarshi Kashyap (India) lost to Clara Azurmendi (Spain) 17-21, 15-21

Mixed doubles

Ishaan Bhatnagar/Tanisha Castro (India) lost to Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue (France) 16-21, 15-21

Rohan Kapoor/N. Sikki Reddy (India) lost to Jafar Hidayatullah/Aisyah Salsabila Putri Pranata (Indonesia) 12-21, 23-21, 21-16