Lakshya Sen enters quarterfinals, Prannoy bows out of Japan Masters

Lakshya Sen advanced to the quarterfinals of the Kumamoto Masters Japan with a straight-game win over Singapore’s Jason Teh, while HS Prannoy exited after losing to Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke. Sen will face Loh Kean Yew in the next round

Japan: Star Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen progressed to the quarterfinals with a straight-game win over Singapore’s Jia Heng Jason Teh, but HS Prannoy bowed out of the men’s singles competition at the Kumamoto Masters Japan here on Thursday.

A 2021 World Championship bronze medallist, Sen, seeded seventh, prevailed over world No 20 Teh 21-13, 21-11 in a 39-minute contest. The world No 15 will next face former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in the quarterfinals.

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Later in the day, Prannoy, 33, went down 18-21, 15-21 to Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke in a 46-minute second-round match.

Lakshya opened up an 8-5 lead early in the opening game. Teh briefly took a slender 10-9 lead before the Indian regained control at the break. The duo fought hard till 14-13, when Lakshya pulled away with seven straight points.

After the change of ends, it was a more dominant show from the Indian as he raced to 5-0 and then 11-3 at the interval to quash his rival’s hopes. Lakshya stayed steady to comfortably close out the match.