NEW DELHI: Former champion PV Sindhu advanced to the women's singles second round at the Singapore Open Super 750 badminton tournament, while Lakshya Sen put up a valiant fight but ultimately lost to world number one Viktor Axelsen on Wednesday.
Sindhu, who last claimed a BWF title in Singapore two years ago, entered the tournament after finishing as runner-up at the Thailand Open last week. She defeated world number 21 Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt of Denmark with a 21-12, 22-20 victory in a 44-minute match.
Sindhu's next challenge is against Rio Olympic champion Carolina Marin of Spain, who holds an 11-5 record against her. Their previous encounter at the Denmark Open was a tense match, with both players receiving yellow cards for verbal exchanges.
World number 14 Lakshya, who is set to make his Olympic debut at the Paris Games, fought hard but eventually lost 13-21, 21-16, 13-21 to Axelsen in a 62-minute match.
Axelsen, who won his first title of the season at the Thailand Open last week, took an early lead, dominating the rallies with his attack. Despite a spirited second game where Lakshya leveled the score and gained a lead, Axelsen regained control in the final game, securing the match with a strong finish.
In other matches, Kidambi Srikanth retired from his opening round after trailing 14-21, 3-11 against Japan's fifth seed Kodai Naraoka.
The mixed doubles pair B Sumeeth Reddy and N Sikki Reddy were defeated 18-21, 19-21 by Malaysia's Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie. Additionally, Venkat Gaurav Prasad and Juhi Dewangan lost 8-21, 8-21 to Denmark's Mads Vestergaard and Christine Busch.
(With PTI inputs)
