PV Sindhu, K Srikanth make impressive starts at Thailand Open

India ace shuttler PV Sindhu (PTI/File Photo)

Top Indian shuttlers P V Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth notched up straight-game wins in the opening round to make impressive starts at the Toyota Thailand Open Super 1000 tournament in Bangkok on Tuesday. A week after being sent packing by Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt in the first event of the Asia leg, world champion Sindhu showed great discipline and focus to see off world no.12 Busanan 21-17 21-13 in the women’s singles opener.

“It was a good game and I’m very, very happy. This win was very important for me in this tournament because at last week’s tournament, I went out in the first round,” Sindhu said after the match. 

“So this win today was important because even though in the first game it was tight, I didn’t want to make it easy,” she added.

The win took Sindhu’s head-to-head count against Busanan to 11-1. The only time the Indian lost to the Thai player was at the Hong Kong Open in 2019. 

HIGHLIGHTS | @Pvsindhu1  takes on Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan  as she seeks redemption after her first round loss last week.#HSBCbadminton #BWFWorldTour #ToyotaThailandOpen pic.twitter.com/CfFRwRIj6y

— BWF (@bwfmedia) January 19, 2021

Sindhu will face either Korea’s Sung Ji Hyun or Soniia Cheah in the second round.

In men’s singles, former world no.1 Srikanth, who had withdrawn ahead of the second round last week due to a calf muscle pull, seemed to have recovered completely as he decimated another Thai player Sitthikom Thammasin 21-11 21-11 in 37 minutes.

Earlier, Sindhu opened up an 8-6 lead in the opening game but Busanan managed to turn the tables, gaining a 13-9 advantage at one stage.

The Indian slowly erased the deficit and moved to an 18-16 lead before earning the bragging rights.

After the change of sides, Sindhu seemed more determined as she zoomed to a 7-2 lead before entering the break with an 11-5 advantage.

Sindhu reached 19-8 with five straight points. The Indian then mistimed a shot and Busanan produced a cross-court smash. Sindhu also lost a point at the net.

But Busanan eventually hit wide to hand seven match points to Sindhu and she sealed the contest with a powerful smash.