India’s Badminton Campaign Ends in Hong Kong Open Round of 16

Kowloon, Hong Kong, China: India’s hopes of a deep run at the Hong Kong Open 2024 came to an abrupt end on Thursday as both remaining pairs, Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand in women’s doubles and B Sumeeth Reddy-N Sikki Reddy in mixed doubles, were eliminated in the round of 16.

Women’s Doubles:

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, the Indian women’s doubles pair, faced a formidable challenge against the Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallists, Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning of China. Despite a spirited fightback in the second game, the Indian duo ultimately fell short, losing 21-11, 22-20.

The Chinese pair dominated the first game, establishing a comfortable lead early on and maintaining their momentum to secure a decisive victory. However, the Indian pair refused to give up, battling back strongly in the second game. They managed to take a 10-6 lead, but the Chinese duo remained composed, clawing their way back into the match and eventually prevailing in a closely contested finish.

Mixed Doubles:

In the mixed doubles event, B Sumeeth Reddy and N Sikki Reddy faced the eighth-seeded Malaysian pair, Shevon Jemie Lai and Goh Soon Huat. Despite a competitive second game, the Indian duo were unable to overcome their opponents, losing 21-11, 22-20.

The first game saw the Malaysian pair take control early on, establishing a significant lead that they maintained throughout. The Indian duo fought back in the second game, even taking a brief lead at one point. However, the Malaysian pair’s experience and skill ultimately proved too much, as they secured a victory in the second game and claimed the match.

Singles Campaign Ends:

Prior to Thursday’s losses, India’s singles campaign had already concluded on Wednesday. Priyanshu Rajawat and Kiran George, competing in the men’s singles event, were both defeated in their opening round matches. In the women’s singles, Aakarshi Kashyap and Tanya Hemanth also failed to advance beyond the first round.

With the elimination of Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand and B Sumeeth Reddy-N Sikki Reddy, India’s participation in the Hong Kong Open 2024 came to a disappointing end. The tournament, held in Kowloon, Hong Kong, China, showcased some of the world’s top badminton players, but India’s hopes of a strong performance were dashed in the early stages of the competition.

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