Indian hopes hit early as Devika Sihag and HS Prannoy bow out at China Masters
India endured a disappointing opening day at the China Masters as Devika Sihag and HS Prannoy were eliminated in the first round. Devika pushed her match to three games before falling to Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan, while Prannoy was beaten in straight games by Malaysia's Leong Jun Hao. PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty are scheduled to begin their campaigns on Wednesday.
The China Masters opening round produced early exits for two of India's entrants, cutting short their tournament runs before the later rounds. Devika Sihag took her contest the distance in a three-game encounter with Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand, showing resilience but ultimately coming up short. HS Prannoy, meanwhile, was unable to extend his match beyond two games, losing in straight games to Malaysia's Leong Jun Hao. The results mark a subdued start for the Indian contingent at this stop on the tour.
Devika Sihag was competitive throughout her match and managed to force a decider against her Thai opponent. Despite the effort that sent the tie into three games, the final outcome favored Busanan Ongbamrungphan, ending Devika's run in the opening round. The three-game nature of the match indicates it was tightly contested, with both players having opportunities before the Thai shuttler prevailed. Devika's exit removes one hopeful from India's singles line-up early in the event.
HS Prannoy's match concluded in straight games, with Malaysia's Leong Jun Hao advancing at his expense. Prannoy was unable to reverse the momentum and was dispatched in two successive games, resulting in an immediate exit from the tournament. The loss eliminates one of India's experienced campaigners in the early phase of the China Masters. Prannoy's departure leaves fewer Indian veterans in contention as the draw progresses.
Attention now turns to the other Indians who will take to the courts as the tournament continues. PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty are all set to begin their respective campaigns on Wednesday, representing the remaining hopes for singles success from India at this event. Their matches will decide whether India can recover from the early setbacks suffered on the opening day. The performances of these players will determine how India’s presence shapes up in the rounds to come.
The early-round defeats for Devika Sihag and HS Prannoy have trimmed India’s entries at the China Masters, placing added emphasis on those yet to play. With PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty slated to start on Wednesday, the next day of competition will be important for India’s prospects at the tournament.
