Devika, Prannoy lose on day 1 of China Masters

Devika, the Thailand Open Super 300 champion, was defeated in the women's singles opening round at the China Masters, going down 19-21, 21-19, 13-21 to World No. 20 Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan. She recovered after losing the first game but was unable to sustain that recovery through the deciding game.

The result came on day one of the China Masters, with Devika arriving at the tournament fresh from the Thailand Open Super 300 title. Her opponent, Busanan Ongbamrungphan, represents Thailand and is listed at World No. 20. The two met in the women's singles opening round, a match that unfolded over three closely contested games.

Devika dropped the opening game 19-21, conceding a narrow margin that set the tone for a tight contest. She answered by taking the second game 21-19, forcing a final game to determine the winner. In the decider, Busanan produced a 21-13 scoreline to close out the match and progress to the next stage.

The middle game provided the clearest momentum shift as Devika levelled the match, but that advantage did not carry into the third. The two players exchanged points through the early stages, with Busanan pulling away to secure a decisive margin in the final game. The scoreline — 19-21, 21-19, 13-21 — reflects the ebb and flow that characterised the encounter.

Devika’s defeat in the opening round ended her bid at the China Masters after a three-game match against a higher-ranked opponent. The outcome underscored the fine margins in first-round play at the event, where a single match can swing on a handful of points.

The loss was recorded on the tournament’s opening day, with Busanan Ongbamrungphan moving on from the women's singles opening round after the victory. The result stands as a clear match outcome for the China Masters’ day one schedule.