Kumamoto Masters Japan: Sindhu, Lakshya eye revival in form
Star players PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen will be keen to regain their form as they spearhead the Indian challenge at the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500 tournament starting here on Tuesday.
Both athletes have had difficulty rediscovering their top form following unsatisfactory showings at the Paris Olympics. Sindhu progressed to the quarterfinals at the Denmark Open Super 750, whereas Lakshya Sen faced early eliminations at both the Arctic Open Super 500 and the Denmark Open.
Both players have faced difficulties in finishing off deciding games after remaining competitive in their contests.
Sindhu, following an unexpected first-round elimination by Canada’s Michelle Li in Finland, reached the quarterfinals in Odense but was defeated by Paris bronze winner Gregoria Mariska Tunjung from Indonesia in a close final game.
Lakshya, conversely, was unable to match the performance of Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen and China’s Lu Guang Zu in Finland and Odense.
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PV Sindhu looks hopeful
“I’m in good shape, physically and mentally fit,” said Sindhu, who will open her campaign against eighth-seeded Thai Busanan Ongbamrungphan.
In spite of these obstacles, Sindhu has shown assurance in her training, collaborating closely with her new coaches Anup Sridhar and the Korean legend Lee Syun Il.
“We’ve been working on different aspects, like speed and defence. I hope to perform well in Japan and China with their guidance.”
Lakshya too needs a title badly
In the men’s singles, Lakshya has the skill to compete against the top players globally, yet his mental toughness has come under scrutiny after his close call at the Tokyo Olympics, where he fell from a medal spot in a devastating defeat.
The 23-year-old is set to face Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao, with a possible matchup against eighth seed Anthony Ginting from Indonesia in the following round.
The other Indian duo competing will be the women’s doubles team of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who are set to play Taipei’s Hsu Yin-Hui and Lin Jhih Yun in their first match. Sure! Please provide the text you’d like me to paraphrase, and I’ll be happy to help.
(With inputs from PTI)
