Malaysia Masters 2024: PV Sindhu, Kiran George advance; Aakarshi, Unnati exit

Sindhu recorded a historic 450th career win in women’s singles.

India endured a mixed campaign on day 2 of the Malaysia Masters 2024 with the big names, barring Unnati Hooda and Akarshi Kashyap, winning their opening round matches. The young mixed doubles duo of Sathish Kumar Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath were the only Indian doubles pair to face defeat on Wednesday.

Among those that won, Kiran George defeated a higher-ranked Takuma Obayashi of Japan in straight sets with a scoreline of 21-16, 21-17. Meanwhile, PV Sindhu registered a historic 450th win in the BWF women’s singles circuit with straight games victory over Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour.

Despite conceding the first point of the match, Sindhu quickly found her rhythm and won seven consecutive points. The two-time Olympic medallist led 11-5 at the interval. Although Gilmour managed to level the score at 15-15, Sindhu regained control and closed out the first game 21-17.

The second game followed a similar pattern, with Sindhu once again leading by five points at the interval. This time, she maintained her dominance throughout, earning eight match-point opportunities. Gilmour saved four, but ultimately succumbed to Sindhu’s pressure, losing the game 21-16 and the match.

Sindhu will now face Korea’s Sim Yu Jin in the pre-quarterfinals.

The only men’s singles player in the tournament for India, Kiran George, displayed explosive gameplay to defeat WR-39 Japanese Takuma Obayashi with a score of 21-16, 21-17. This sets up a matchup against the number #6 seed, Lee Zii Jia, in the next round.

World number #53 Ashmita Chaliha defeated Lin Sih-Yun from Taiwan in straight games with a final scoreline of 21-17, 21-16. The first game was fairly close, with the Taiwanese holding a one-point lead at the interval. However, after a 16-16 tie, Ashmita surged ahead to take the first game 21-17.

In the second game, Ashmita led 11-9 at the interval and maintained a slight edge throughout. Leading 18-16, she won three consecutive points to close out the game and secure the match. Ashmita will face Beiwen Zhang from the US. in the next round.

In men’s doubles, Krishna Prasad Garaga and Sai Pratheek K. clinched victory against Ming Che Lu and Tang Kai Wei from Chinese Taipei in straight games, with a scoreline of 23-21, 21-11.

In mixed doubles, Sumeeth B. Reddy and Sikki Reddy secured a victory over Hong Kong’s Lui Chun Wai and Fu Chi Yan in three games, with a scoreline of 21-15, 12-21, 21-17.

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Other results of Indian players:

Aakarshi Kashyap put up a tough fight against China’s number #2 seed Wang Zhi Yi but ultimately lost with a scoreline of 24-22, 21-13.

Unnati Hooda lost to Gao Fang Jie of China in straight games, 21-13, 21-18, after a competitive fight.

In mixed doubles, Sathish Kumar Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath lost to the number #6 seeds from Indonesia, Dejan Ferdinansyah and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja, with a scoreline of 21-16, 21-13.

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