Kiran George made the most of an unexpected opportunity at the India Open, overcoming a higher-ranked opponent, Yushi Tanaka, in a thrilling Round of 32 match.
Kiran was only added to the men’s singles main draw late on Monday after a couple of withdrawals, including Malaysia Open winner Shi Yuqi of China and Indonesia’s Antony Ginting. Despite his late entry, Kiran showcased his skills and composure, defeating World No. 25 Tanaka 21-19, 14-21, 27-25 in a match lasting 71 minutes.
The match was an intense back-and-forth, with both players producing some spectacular shots. In the decider, Kiran had a slight advantage, but Tanaka fought back to force a tiebreaker. Kiran missed three match points but survived three of his own before securing the win.
“I’m happy to come out on top,” said Kiran. “It was a tough match, but it gives me confidence. I only found out about my entry yesterday, but I was prepared after being on the reserve list.”
This victory marks an important step in Kiran’s career. Ranked 38th in the world, he has been striving to establish himself at the highest level. He is now the fourth-highest ranked Indian shuttler after Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, and Priyanshu Rajawat.
Kiran’s focus is on maintaining his fitness and wisely selecting his tournaments. “I’m just focused on the next match and staying fit and healthy,” he said.
With 45 Indian players in the competition, including Kiran, the India Open provides an important platform for less-experienced shuttlers to gain valuable experience.
Sindhu, Satwik, and Chirag Move Forward
PV Sindhu began her campaign with a 21-14, 22-20 win over Chinese Taipei’s Sung Shuo-yun. Despite facing challenges in recent months, Sindhu controlled the match and advanced to the next round. “It’s always tough to find rhythm after a break, but I’m happy to win in straight games,” Sindhu said. She will next face Japan’s Manami Suizu.
In men’s doubles, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty battled hard to defeat Malaysia’s Man Wei Chong and Kai Wun Tee 23-21, 19-21, 21-16.
Treesa-Gayatri Out of Women’s Doubles
However, it was a disappointing day for women’s doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand. Seeded No. 5, they were beaten by Japan’s Arisa Igarashi and Ayako Sakuramoto 23-21, 21-19.
In mixed doubles, Druv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto overcame Chinese Taipei’s Chen Cheng Kuan and Hsu Yin-Hui 8-21, 21-19, 21-17 to move on to the next round.
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