Lakshya Sen Exits China Masters; Kidambi Srikanth, Tanvi Sharma Progress

Shenzhen, September 2: India's Lakshya Sen suffered a first-round exit at the China Masters Super 750, going down 14-21, 7-21 to Canada's Victor Lai in 38 minutes. The 2021 world championships bronze-medallist struggled against the world No. 9, who claimed his second bronze at the World Championships last month. Sen's only win over Lai came at the All England Championships in March; this loss extended his losing streak against the Canadian to three matches.

The defeat adds to a difficult period for Sen, who made an early exit from the World Championships at home last month. In Shenzhen, Sen led 4-0 in the opening game before Lai took control, and after the change of ends, Sen trailed 4-11 and could not mount a comeback.

Kidambi Srikanth, the 2021 world championships silver-medallist, progressed to the second round by beating Chinese Taipei's Chi Yu Jen 21-16, 21-15. Ranked 34th, Srikanth was below Yu Jen (ranked 21st) but used his experience to secure a comfortable win. He will face Victor Lai in the Round of 16. Srikanth is chasing his first BWF World Tour title since 2017; he lost a 61-minute final at the US Open Super 300 in June.

India's Tanvi Sharma eased past Denmark's Amalie Schulz 21-16, 21-17 in women's singles. The 17-year-old, who won her maiden World Tour title at the Taipei Open last month, will meet Japan's Tomoka Miyazaki next. Devika Sihag lost to Bulgaria's Kaloyana Nalbantova 18-21, 15-21.

In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto defeated Thailand's Tonnakorn Saeheng and Tonnicha Saeheng 21-8, 21-9. Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Gadde's campaign ended with a first-round loss to Wu Guan Xun and Lee Chia Hsin of Chinese Taipei.

In other men's singles results, Raunak Chauhan beat Liu Yu Xuan of China 21-15, 21-18; Saneeth Dayanand defeated Dong Tian Yao 9-21, 21-18, 21-15; and Kiran George lost to Japan's Shogo Ogawa 15-21, 23-21, 10-21. Anmol Kharb and Ashmita Chaliha won in women's singles, beating Liang Ka Wing of Hong Kong and Pornpicha Choeikeewong of Thailand respectively.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were scheduled to face Malaysia's Junaidi Arif and Kang Khai Xing in men's doubles later on Wednesday.