The proceedings in the India Open badminton are following a predictable script. Barring second seeds Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, none of the home-grown talent on view survived the second day of the competition here.
The Chirag-Satwik duo, too, dealt with some anxious moments in the early stages of the decider before regaining control for a 21-15, 19-21, 21-16 triumph over Chinese Taipei’s Fang Chih-Lee and Fang-Jen Lee. This was a second win for the Indians over their rivals to go with the triumph in the 2023 Swiss Open.
However, there was disappointment for Indians in all other matches. Former World No. 1 K. Srikanth, now ranked 25th, raised visions of an encouraging result but bowed to Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu for the third straight time in four encounters. During the 47-minute match that Lee Cheuk Yiu won 24-22, 21-13, Srikanth saved three game points in the opener, squandered a game-point before his rival converted his fifth game-point.
