Singapore Open 2023 badminton: Kidambi Srikanth loses as India’s challenge ends

India’s Kidambi Srikanth crashed out of the Singapore Open 2023 after losing to Chia Hao Lee of Chinese Taipei in the round of 16 on Thursday.

Kidambi Srikanth, world No. 23 in the badminton rankings, lost 21-15, 21-19 to the world No. 42 Chia Hao Lee in a clash which lasted 49 minutes. 

Playing at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, Kidambi Srikanth and Chia Hao Lee went toe-to-toe early on but the Chinese Taipei player raised his game towards the end to take the lead.

Kidambi Srikanth started the second game strongly and took a 16-10 lead. As the match progressed though, Chia Hao Lee went on the offensive and made a comeback to seal the game and knocked the Indian out.

Earlier on Thursday, India’s Priyanshu Rajawat also exited the tournament after suffering a 21-17, 21-16 defeat against Japan’s Kodai Naraoka - the world No. 4 and third seed at the BWF Super 750 tournament. Naraoka had knocked out HS Prannoy in the first round.

Meanwhile, India’s men’s doubles pair of MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila were also knocked out after going down 21-15, 21-19 to Great Britain’s Ben Lane and Sean Vendy in the round of 16.

With the three defeats on Thursday, the Indian challenge in the Singapore Open 2023 ended in the second round. 

India’s challenge in women’s singles ended after Olympic medallists PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal were sent packing in the first round on Tuesday. Lakshya Sen was also ousted in the opening round of men’s singles.

India’s top men’s doubles pair Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy also bowed out in the first round after losing to Japan’s Akira Koga and Taichi Saito on Wednesday.