Lakshya Sen Sails Into Quarterfinals, PV Sindhu Exits From China Masters Super 750 Tournament

Star Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen progressed to quarterfinals with a straight-game win, but two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu's campaign ended in second round of China Masters Super 750 bminton tournament here on Thursday.

Lakshya, who missed out on a bronze medal at Paris Olympics, looked at his lethal best while disposing off Rasmus Gemke of Denmark 21-6 21-18 in a 46-minute men's singles second round match.

Lakshya will be up against winner of match between Japan's Takuma Obayashi and third seed Anders Antonsen of Denmark.

But it turned out to be anor disappointing outing for Sindhu as she lost to Singapore's Yeo Jia Min in a hard-fought women's singles contest.

World No.19 Sindhu, who dispatched higher-ranked Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-17 21-19 in opening round, fought valiantly before going down 16-21 21-17 21-23 to Min in a match that lasted one hour and nine minutes.

It was curtains for or two surviving Indian women's singles players as Anupama Uphyaya and Malvika Bansod crashed out in second round.

While Anupama lost 7-21 14-21 to Japan's Natsuki Nidaira, Malvika was thrashed 9-21 9-21 by eight-seeded Supanida Katethong of Thailand.

women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand was no match for second seeded Chinese pair of Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning.

world number 18 Indian duo, currently at eight spot in BWF World Tour rankings, lost 16-11 11-21 against ir Chinese opponents in a second round match lasting just 43 minutes.

Defending champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who returned to action after a break following Paris Olympics, also moved to quarterfinals of men's doubles with a 21-19 21-15 win over Danish pair of Rasmus Kjaer and Frederik Soggard.

Asian Games gold medallist Indian duo will meet Danish combination of Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, who are seeded second here, in next round.

Lakshya vs Gemke ============ Lakshya started in an aggressive fashion and h his nose ahe over Gemke in opening game.

He used his brilliant net play and clever court coverage to set up his points. Lakshya never looked in trouble as he enjoyed an upper hand over his rival to pocket first game easily.

second game, however, witnessed a closer contest with both shuttlers fighting tooth and nail till first 10 points before Lakshya took a slender one point le at halfway stage when Gemke hit shuttle wide.

Lakshya's brilliant pick ups from net was hallmark of his game and he used booming court smashes to take a 14-12 le.

Lakshya used his fast hands to force unforced errors from his opponent to take 20-16 le.

Gemke saved two match points before Lakshya closed out contest with two powerful smashes.

Sindhu vs Min

hard-wrenching defeat was Sindhu's first loss against her Singaporean rival in six meetings.

It was a neck-and-neck affair between Sindhu and Min till first six points but Singaporean upped her game and capitalised on a few unforced errors from her opponent to take a five-point vantage (11-6) at first break.

Sindhu, however, didn't give up and clawed her way back with some long rallies and fine court play to pocket four straight points and reduce margin to 11-10.

close contest continued till 16 points before Min upped her game and won five consecutive points to take first game.

In second game, Sindhu came out attacking and raced to an early 8-5 le which Min slowly reduced but Indian kept her cool and used her experience to pocket four straight points from 17 to level scores.

decider was a treat to watch as both shuttlers were in no mood to give an inch to each or.

At one point Sindhu h a 13-9 le but a determined Min didn't give up as she displayed fine attacking game and capitalised on a tiring Sindhu's errors to seal match in her favour.