Another sorry day of affairs for the Indian badminton contingent at the Thailand Open Super 500 series, as the top-ranked women’s duo of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand crashed out in the second round of the tournament, losing 20-22, 14-21 to the Japanese pair of Rui Hirokami and Sayaka Hobara.
The Indian duo, returning after an injury layoff, showed glimpses of their fighting spirit in the first game but ultimately lost in straight sets, as the Japanese pair dominated proceedings in the second.
In women’s singles, Malvika Bansod, world number 23 and a runner-up at the 2024 Hylo Open, went down to seventh seed and home favourite Ratchanok Intanon in straight games, 12-21, 16-21. Ratchanok had earlier defeated another Indian, Anupama Upadhyaya, in straight sets in the first round.
Meanwhile, Unnati Hooda, the 2022 Odisha Masters and 2023 Abu Dhabi Masters winner was up against top seed and another local favourite Pornpawee Chochuwong, couldn’t keep pace and lost comprehensively, 14-21, 11-21 within 39 minutes.
Aakarshi Kashyap, the last remaining hope in women’s singles, also fell in straight sets to fourth seed Supanida Katethong, going down 9-21, 14-21. In the first round, 23-year old Aakarshi had delivered a standout performance defeating higher ranked Kaoru Sugiyama of Japan in a three-set game.
On the other hand, after yesterday’s dismal performances in men’s singles saw India’s top-ranked player Lakshya Sen, along with Priyanshu Rajwat, exited in the first round.
One Indian, Tharun Mannepalli, did manage to reach the second round after defeating Malaysian Justin Hoh in straight sets. However, he faced a mountain of a challenge in second seed Anders Antonsen next, and stood little chance, losing 14-21, 16-21.
Day three thus marking the end of the road for Indian shuttlers in this season’s Thailand Open.