Indian Badminton Shines at Australian Open: Shetty and Sen Set for All-Indian Quarterfinal Clash
The Australian Open is heating up, and Indian badminton is making its mark! Young sensation Ayush Shetty and former world championships bronze medalist Lakshya Sen have powered their way into the quarterfinals, setting up an exciting all-Indian showdown. Meanwhile, seasoned pros HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth faced early exits, highlighting the fierce competition at this USD 475,000 Super 500 event.
Shetty’s Stellar Performance Against Naraoka
Ayush Shetty, fresh off his triumph at the Yonex US Open Super 300, delivered a commanding performance against the fourth-seeded Kodai Naraoka of Japan. In a hard-fought 68-minute battle, the 20-year-old Shetty clinched a 21-17, 21-16 victory. This marks Shetty’s second win over the world no. 9 Japanese player this year, showcasing his growing prowess on the international stage.
The first game saw a tense back-and-forth, with the lead changing hands multiple times. Shetty, however, managed to dig deep when it mattered most, securing the final three points to take the opening game 21-17. The second game proved more decisive, with Shetty pulling away after a close 14-all tie, ultimately closing out the match with a strong finish.
Sen Overcomes Chi Yu Jen in a Thriller
Lakshya Sen, the seventh seed, also advanced to the last eight, but not without a challenge. he faced Chinese-Taipei’s Chi Yu Jen in a grueling 63-minute encounter, ultimately prevailing 21-17, 13-21, 21-13.this victory serves as sweet revenge for Sen, who had suffered a round-of-32 loss to Chi Yu Jen at the Malaysia Open earlier this year.
Sen dominated the opening game, building a significant lead. However, Chi Yu Jen mounted a remarkable comeback, notching seven consecutive points to narrow the deficit. The second game saw Chi Yu Jen fight back, forcing a decider. In the final game, Sen regained his composure, reeling off seven straight points from a 7-7 tie to secure his place in the quarterfinals.
Doubles Dominance: Satwik-Chirag March On
The top-seeded Indian men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, continued their impressive run with an effortless 21-18, 21-11 victory over Su Ching Heng and Wu Guan Xun of Chinese-Taipei.The formidable duo took just 37 minutes to secure their spot in the quarterfinals, where they will face the fifth-seeded Indonesian pair of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri.
Prannoy and srikanth’s Early Departures
Sadly, the Australian Open proved to be a tough outing for veteran Indian shuttlers HS Prannoy and kidambi Srikanth.
HS Prannoy, who has struggled to advance beyond the pre-quarterfinals this year, was defeated by the eighth seed and former junior world champion, Farhan Alwi of Indonesia. Prannoy lost in straight games, 19-21, 10-21, in a match that lasted 42 minutes. This follows a challenging three-game victory in the previous round against a much lower-ranked opponent,indicating a potential dip in form.
Kidambi Srikanth, whose best performance this year has been a runner-up finish at the Malaysia Masters, also made an early exit. He was overcome by Japan’s Shogo Ogawa in 43 minutes, with a scoreline of 20-22, 16-21.
the Australian Open continues to deliver thrilling badminton action, and all eyes will be on the all-Indian quarterfinal clash between Ayush Shetty and Lakshya Sen as they battle for a spot in the semifinals.
