Lakshya Sen of India advanced to the quarterfinals of the Japan Open on Thursday with a straight-sets victory against Japanese shuttler Kanta Tsuneyama.
HS Prannoy defeated compatriot Srikanth Kidambi 19-21, 21-9, 21-9 to reach the quarterfinals at the cost of the 30-year-old Indian shuttle stalwart.
In the Ro16 match, the Indian men’s doubles pairing of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty easily defeated the Danish pair of Lasse Molhede and Jeppe Bay.
Sen’s 21-14, 21-16 victory against the 27-year-old Japanese shuttler from Shiga in a 50-minute match was a display of dominance from the man from Almora, who headed to the victory in the opening game, never giving the lead after gaining the edge early on to cruise to a victory.
The second game was a little more balanced, with the lead changing hands a few times, but the 21-year-old remained steady and saw the game through after taking the lead at 17-16, from which he went on to win the tie.
Rankireddy and Shetty advanced to the next round of the men’s doubles tournament with a 21-17, 21-11 thrashing of the Danish duo in just over 35 minutes.
The Danes started well in the second game, but ultimately their challenge against the mighty Indian duo fizzled out as Rankireddy and Shetty won the game in style.