India’s Kidambi Srikanth has been knocked out of the India Open Badminton Tournament. Srikanth lost to world number one Viktor Axelsen of Denmark 21-14, 21-19. Srikanth tried his best to challenge Olympic champion and reigning world champion Axelsen but was defeated in the 41-minute contest. This was the 13th meeting between the two players with Axelsen winning for the 10th time.
Srikanth won the India Open title in 2015. Last year, he was the top seed but missed the second round due to illness and the opponent received a walkover. And Axelsen, who won the title here in 2017 and 2019, will face China’s Shi Yu Qi in the second round, who beat Indonesia’s Chiko Verdoyo 20-22, 21-16, 21-15 in the first round.
At one stage, Malvika was leading 10-4 in the 1st game. 
India Open: Malvika Bansod (WR 34) lost to defending champion Busanan Ongbamrungphan (WR 12) 17-21, 12-21 in the first round. ➡️ Malvika was leading 10-4 in the 1st game at one stage. #IndiaOpen2023 https://t.co/AoBRb3tDem
In the women’s singles, Malvika Bansod of India was knocked out by defending champion Busanan Ongbemerongphan of Thailand in the first round. Busanan won the match 21-17, 21-12. This was the first meeting of the two. Malvika led 10-4 in the first set but Busanan used her experience to come back. India’s Akarshi Kashyap, ranked 39th in the world, was dismissed by American player Beiven Zhang. World No. 23 Zhang won the match 21-15, 21-12. Ashwini Bhatt and Shikha Gautam lost their women’s doubles first round match.
Expectations from target-signers
India now have only two players left in singles matches. In the men’s singles, seventh seed Lakshya Sen will face Denmark’s Rasmus Game on Thursday. Saina Nehwal will face China’s third seed Chen Yu Fei in the second round of the women’s singles. In men’s doubles, fifth seeds and defending champions Satwik Sairaj-Chirag Shetty will also play Krishna Prasad-Vishnuvardhan in the second round on Thursday. In women’s doubles, Trisa-Gayatri pairing will also present a challenge in the second round.
