Asian Games 2018: Kidmabi Srikanth, HS Prannoy suffer shock exits

Top Indian men’s shuttlers Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy suffered shock exits from the second round of the 18^th Asian Games in Jakarta, on Friday.

Former World No.1 Srikanth who created a record of becoming the first Indian to win four Grand Prix Badminton tournaments last year, went down in a shocking 21-23, 19-21 straight set defeat against Wong Wing Ki Vincent of Hong Kong in just 43 minutes, while Prannoy lost 12-21, 21-15, 15-21 to Kantaphon Wangcharoen of Thailand in a 65-minute contest.

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Srikanth who held a supreme 5-2 lead over Vincent showed no glimpse of the game that propelled him to the number one ranking. He had also faced defeat in the men’s team event going down 21-23, 22-20, 10-21 to Indonesia’s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting.

Meanwhile, World No.11 Prannoy failed to realise his Asian medal dreams after in a closely-fought battle. He lost the opening set but bounced back in the second to take the game to a decider but proved ineffective against the Thai opponent.

The women’s doubles pair of Ashwini Ponappa and N Sikki Reddy, however, continued their progress reaching the quarter-finals following a 21-17, 16-21, 21-19 victory over the Malaysian combo of Chow Mei Kuan and Lee Meng Yean.

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Ponappa and Reddy who won a bronze in the Commonwealth Games earlier this year showed immense grit and concentration to overcome the superior ranked Malaysian pair. But faces a more tough challenge in the next round where they will encounter the third-seeded Chinese doubles team of Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan tomorrow. A win here will ensure them a bronze medal.

Among the women’s singles category, both PV Sindhu and Saian Nehwal, both of whom advanced to the second round on Thursday will take on Gregoria Mariska Tunjung and Fitriani respectively tomorrow.