India’s hopes at the Japan Open 2024 badminton tournament came to an end as Sathish Kumar Karunakaran, the last Indian shuttler in the fray, was defeated in the pre-quarterfinals of the men’s singles event in Yokohama.
Sathish Kumar Karunakaran battles hard
Ranked 47th in the world, Sathish Kumar Karunakaran faced a tough challenge against Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen, ranked 40th globally. The match, which lasted for one hour and 10 minutes, saw Karunakaran lose 21-18, 18-21, 8-21.
Despite a strong start, where he managed a comeback in the first game after trailing 18-13, Karunakaran couldn’t maintain his momentum in the subsequent games.
Decisive turn in second game
In the second game, Karunakaran initially led with an 11-9 advantage at the mid-game interval and even extended his lead to 15-11. However, Wangcharoen’s resilience came through as the Thai shuttler won 10 of the next 13 points, forcing a deciding third game.
The final game saw Wangcharoen dominate from the start, racing to a 13-3 lead and eventually securing his place in the quarterfinals.
Lone fighter at Japan Open 2024 Badminton
Karunakaran’s journey to the round of 16 was marked by a stroke of fortune when his opponent, world No. 3 Anders Antonsen from Denmark, withdrew from their scheduled match due to injury.
Despite this, Karunakaran was the only Indian from the 10-member contingent to advance beyond the first round in the BWF Super 750 event.
Early Exits for Other Indian Shuttlers
The rest of the Indian squad had a disappointing run at the Japan Open 2024. In the women’s singles category, Malvika Bansod, Ashmita Chaliha, and Aakarshi Kashyap all exited in the first round. Kiran George faced a similar fate in the men’s singles.
In the mixed doubles, the experienced duo of B Sumeeth Reddy and N Sikki Reddy had to concede their opening match due to a mid-game injury. Karunakaran also competed in the mixed doubles alongside Aadya Variyath, but the pair was eliminated in the first round.
The Panda sisters, Rutuparna and Swetaparna, faced an early exit in the women’s doubles, rounding off a disappointing tournament for India.
Top Indian players skip tournament
India’s top badminton players, including PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen, who are part of the seven-member team preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympics, did not participate in the Japan Open. Their absence left a gap in India’s competitive edge at the tournament.
Looking Ahead for Indian Badminton
As the Japan Open 2024 concludes for Indian players, the focus now shifts to the upcoming tournaments. While the early exits were disappointing, the experience gained by the younger players could prove valuable in the long run. The Indian badminton contingent will be looking to regroup and come back stronger in future competitions.
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