Indian challenge ended at the French Open Super Series badminton tournament after top seed Saina Nehwal suffered a straight game defeat to Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon in the quarterfinals here on Friday.
World No. 2 Saina, who came into the match with a 6-3 head-to-head record, lost 9-21, 15-21 to Intanon, ranked 7th, in a women’s singles match that lasted 39 minutes at the Stade Pierre de Coube.
In the prequarterfinals match, Saina had tamed Japanese Minatsu Mitani in straight games after two successive defeats against the Japanese at Japan Open and Denmark Open.
Among others, H S Prannoy, Ajay Jayaram, and women’s doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa lost in the second round on Thursday.
In the second round match, Saina dished out a superb game to see off the World Championship bronze medallist Mitani 21-19, 21-16 in a 41-minute match to set up a fight with eight seed Intanon.
In men’s singles, NG Ka long Angus of Hong Kong ended the run of Prannoy, who had beaten two-time Olympic champion lin Dan of China, with a 21-15, 21-10 win second round.
Two-time Dutch Open winner Jayaram too failed to cross the second round after suffering a 18-21 8-21 loss to Tian Houwei of China.
2010 Commonwealth Games champions Jwala and Ashwini lost 15-21 18-21 to eight seeds Eefje Muskens and Selena Piek of Netherlands.
Injured Kashyap may be out for next two months
Commonwealth Games Champion Parupalli Kashyap suffered a “torn calf muscle” injury during his second round match against England’s Rajiv Ouseph at the French Super Series and he might be out of action for next two months.
“I injured myself during the third game of the round of 16. Initial diagnosis by the physio suggests a torn calf muscle. However, I will need to wait for a detailed scan once I’m back home,” Kashyap wrote on his facebook page.
“I might be out of the game for the next 2 months. It’s going to be extremely difficult to stay out of the game. Will need to use this time productively to help further improve my game,” he added.
Kashyap on Thursday bowed out of the men’s singles event of French Open after he was forced to concede the match in the decider following the injury.
Eighth seed Kashyap lost the opening game but came back strongly in the second only to be retired at 2-4 in the third game at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin.