Indian Shuttlers Face Setback at Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024

Indian duo Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand fell short in their Kumamoto Masters debut, conceding defeat to Chinese Taipei's Lin Jhih Yun-Hsu Yin Hui. Despite past wins against the pair, the Indians lost their grip on the match. Top players PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen remain hopeful for India.

Indian badminton duo Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand faced an early exit at the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024 after losing the opening match in the women's doubles on Tuesday. The Commonwealth Games bronze medalists were defeated by Chinese Taipei's world No. 29 pair Lin Jhih Yun-Hsu Yin Hui with a 21-16, 21-16 scoreline in the round of 32.

The Indian shuttlers initially trailed 7-4 in the first game but managed to level the score at 8-all. However, the Chinese Taipei pair regained momentum with a six-point streak, taking the first game. The second game mirrored the first, as Lin Jhih Yun-Hsu Yin Hui dominated and led by five points at 12-7. Although the Indian pair equalized with a five-point run, the Chinese Taipei players closed out the match with a strong finish.

This marks the first defeat for Treesa and Gayatri against Lin Jhih Yun-Hsu Yin Hui, having previously bested them at the Macau Open and German Open earlier this year. Despite this setback, India's top shuttlers, PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen, continue to spearhead the nation's challenge. Sindhu, ranked 19th in women's singles, recently lost to Indonesia's Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in the Denmark Open quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Sen, currently world No. 17 in men's singles, remains India's sole contender in the category at Kumamoto Masters, still seeking a win in the new Olympic cycle.

(With inputs from agencies.)