Top Indian shuttlers HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen faced an early exit at the Malaysia Masters Super 500 Tournament in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
The All England finalist Lakshya bowed down in a straight-game 17-21, 11-21 affair to the 18-year-old rising star Zaki Ubaidillah of Indonesia.
The two-time junior world medalist Zaki outclassed his much higher-ranked opponent in a comfortable first-round matchup in 43 minutes.
Meanwhile, Prannoy showed a good fight against World No. 9 Kodai Naraoka of Japan, but a lack of composure in the dying moments cost him the match.
The 33-year-old had five match points in the decider, leading 20-16, but he could not close it out and lost in three games, 17-21, 22-20, 22-24.
On the other hand, Malvika Bansod registered India’s first win of the day, knocking out Yvonne Li of Germany in three games, 21-17, 16-21, 21-9.
She will next face Denmark’s Line Kjaersfeldt, who defeated another young Indian shuttler Anmol Kharb, 13-21, 21-16, 21-19 in her first round match.
More to follow.
