Japan Open 2023: Lakshya Sen through to semis; Prannoy, Satwik-Chirag exit

Both HS Prannoy and Satwik-Chirag lost to reigning Olympic champions.

Commonwealth Games 2022 champion, Lakshya Sen progressed to the semi-finals of Japan Open 2023 by getting the better of Koki Watanabe in straight games (21-15, 21-19). He is the lone Indian to feature in the semi-finals this week, with HS Prannoy and men's doubles duo of Satwik-Chirag exiting after putting up valiant efforts in their respective quarter-finals encounters.

Asian champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty lost to Olympic champions Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin in three games (15-21, 25-23, 16-21). After a poor start, the Indian duo came back strongly in the second game; saving three match points to win the second game 25-13 and force a decider.

The Chinese Taipei pair were always aggressive in their approach which took the Indian duo off colour. However, the Indians managed to change the game plan in the second game and countered them by playing the attacking game which helped them to win it.

In the decider, the World No. 2 Indian pair tried hard but couldn't get past Yang/Wang who are making a re-entry into the circuit after a brief break. The defeat also halted Satwik-Chirag's 12-match winning streak in the BWF World Tour. They are, however, likely to retain the WR-2 spot in the next week's rankings.

Later in the day, HS Prannoy put up a tough fight against reigning World and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen but in the end lost complete control of the match possibly due to lack of energy. Viktor had good control in the opening game and was leading 16-11) at one stage. However, Prannoy stepped on the accelerator and took 10 of the next 13 points to win the opening game.

In the second, Prannoy started exceedingly well with a healthy six-points advantage at 7-1 and held on to a sizeable lead till the mid-game interval. Viktor from here on took over the game with Prannoy fighting to stay in, but in the end, the WR-1 won the second game and forced a decider. Prannoy, 31, looked tired at the end of second game and was never in control in the decider as well barring the initial few points.

From 5-5 in the decider, Viktor scored seven straight points to race ahead and comprehensively progressed to the semi-finals by winning the deciding game 21-8.

To Prannoy's credit though, this was the first time, Viktor Axelsen lost a game post the All England Open in March in the BWF World Tour. Although he has played only two tournaments - the Swiss and Indonesia Open, Axelsen has gone on to dominate his opponents and finished all his matches in straight games before this match.

India's performance on day 4 of Japan Open 2023

Men's Singles Quarter-Finals

HS Prannoy lost to Viktor Axelsen (21-19, 18-21, 8-21)

Lakshya Sen beat Koki Watanabe (21-15, 21-19)

Men's Doubles Quarter-Finals

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty lost to Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin (15-21, 25-23, 16-21)