Star Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth started his campaign on a bright note with a straight game win as he, along with a host of other youngsters, progressed to the second round of the Taipei Open Super 300 Badminton Tournament on Wednesday. (As It Happened | More Badminton News)
World No. 61 Srikanth, who is battling an extended lean patch, dispatched fellow Indian Sankar Subramanian, a 2022 world junior championships silver medallist, 21-16 21-15 to enter the second round.
The 32-year-old, a silver-medallist at the 2021 World Championships, will face another Indian Ayush Shetty, a 2023 world junior championships bronze medallist.
Ayush, who reached the semifinals of the Orleans Masters, produced a stunning show, upsetting third seed and world number 13 Lee Chia Hao of Chinese Taipei 21-17 21-18 in 50 minutes. Chia-hao was runner-up at the All England Championships in March.
The 2023 National Games gold-medallist Tharun Mannepalli produced a gritty show, outwitting Japan's Shogo Ogawa 21-17 19-21 21-12 in 70 minute clash to set up a meeting with Indonesia's Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah.
Meiraba Luwang Maisnam, however, went down 21-23 12-21 to Canada's Brian Yang.
In women's singles, Unnati Hooda, winner of two super 100 titles -- 2022 Odisha Masters and 2023 Abu Dhabi Masters, beat compatriot Anupama Upadhyaya 21-13 21-17 to also reach the second round. She will face Taipei's Lin Sih Yun next.
Aakarshi Kashyap, however, faltered in the opening hurdle, going down 9-21 12-21 to Taipei's Hung Yi-Ting in a one-sided contest.
