Odense [Denmark], October 15 (ANI): Indian shuttler PV Sindhu advanced to the second round of the Denmark Open after her opponent, Pai Yu Po of Chinese Taipei, retired in the first round on Tuesday.
Sindhu dominated her opponent throughout the match. The two-time Olympic medallist comfortably won the first set 21-8. In the second set, Sindhu was leading 13-7 when her opponent retired from the game due to a knee injury.
Earlier in the day, Lakshya Sen’s campaign at the Denmark Open ended in disappointment, as he was defeated by China’s Lu Guangzu in the opening round. Sen, who had high expectations for a strong performance, was unable to maintain his early momentum, ultimately losing 21-12, 19-21, 14-21.
The Indian shuttler started well, taking the first game 21-12 with aggressive play and sharp smashes, keeping Lu on the defensive and suggesting a straightforward win for Sen.
Sen carried his dominance into the second game, building a commanding 16-11 lead. However, a sudden shift in momentum allowed Lu to stage a comeback. The Chinese player showed remarkable resilience, narrowing the gap and eventually winning the second game 21-19.
In the deciding game, Sen struggled to regain control as Lu maintained his confidence. Despite Sen’s efforts, Lu’s consistent and strategic play secured him a 21-14 win in the third game. This defeat marks another early exit for Sen, following his disappointing performance at the Arctic Open.
Sen had previously bowed out in the pre-quarterfinals of that tournament, losing to Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen, according to Olympics.com. He was India’s sole representative in the men’s singles competition at Denmark, where he faced China’s world No. 17, Lu Guangzu.
In the women’s singles, Malvika Bansod was defeated by Nguyen Thuy Linh 21-13, 21-12 in the Round of 32. Bansod, who reached the quarterfinals of the China Open, a BWF Super 1000 event, was eliminated in the pre-quarterfinals of the Arctic Open. (ANI)
