Top five Indian performers at Indonesia Open 2021

None of the shuttlers managed to win a medal at the event.

The curtains closed successfully for the Indonesia Open 2021 that took place in Bali, Indonesia. Being a BWF Super 1000 tournament, it was a very crucial event for all Indian shuttlers to give their best and improve rankings. Following the Indonesia Masters, a couple of Indian shuttlers took part in Indonesia Open but none of them were able to clinch a podium finish. 

However, there were a few notable performances from a few Indian players at the tournament. Let's take a look at the top five Indian performers at the Indonesia Open 2021.

5. Lakshya Sen

Sen put up a brave fight against world No. 1 Kento Momota of Japan in the Indonesia Open Round of 32 but fell short to convert a win for himself. The 20-year-old made the top seed work hard for each and every point before going down 21-23, 15-21 in 54 minutes.

This was the second time Lakshya Sen faced Kento Momota after the Indonesia Masters second round. He put up another valiant effort but still fell short to the ace shuttler. He has been improving with every tournament and will look to perform better in the upcoming tournament.

4. Kidambi Srikanth

Srikanth seems to be getting back to good form in the last few tournaments. In an all-India encounter at the Indonesia Open, the 28-year-old got the better of compatriot HS Prannoy for the second time after the Indonesia Masters to move into the Round of 16 of the tournament. Kidambi Srikanth defeated HS Prannoy 21-15, 19-21, 21-12 in 56 minutes to continue his good form on the court.

However, the Indian shuttler soon crashed out of the tournament as he went down to the world No. 2 Victor Axelsen in straight games 14-21, 18-21 in just 37 minutes. The recent performances will give him confidence ahead of the BWF World Tour Finals 2021.

3. B Sai Praneeth

World No. 15 B Sai Praneeth began the tournament impressively after a long time. He defeated France's Toma Popov 21-19, 21-18 in his first match at the Indonesia Open 2021. The Indian shuttler entered the quarter-final of the tournament after he beat Chistov Popov of France 21-17, 14-21, 21-19 in a match that lasted for 83 minutes. 

However, he was beaten by Tokyo Olympics gold medallist and world No. 2 Victor Axelsen in the quarter-final. The Danish shuttler took control of the match right from the start to eventually beat him 21-12, 21-8 in just 36 minutes. Previously, Axelsen had taken down Kidambi Srikanth in the Round of 16 of the competition.

2. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty

India's most promising men's doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty booked their semi-final berth after they got the better of Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin of Malaysia. The youngsters beat the Malaysians in straight games 21-19, 21-19 in the quarter-final to move into the last four of Indonesia Open 2021. 

However, a tougher challenge lay ahead for them in the semi-final in the form of world No. 1 pair Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo of Indonesia. The Indians had never won in the nine previous meetings against the Indonesian pair. 

Unfortunately, they were unable to break the streak this time as well. They ultimately went down 16-21, 18-21 against the world No. 1 pair, marking their end at the Indonesia Open 2021. 

1. PV Sindhu

Reigning world champion and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist PV Sindhu marched into her third semi-final after the Indonesia Masters and French Open. However, she was unable to convert it into a win this time as well. She reached the Indonesia Open 2021 semi-final by beating Sim Yujin of Korea in a stunning three-game encounter 14-21, 21-19, 21-14 in the quarter-final. 

Up against second seed, Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in the semi-finals, Sindhu put up valiant efforts but fell short to convert a win for herself. She eventually went down 21-15, 9-21, 14-21 in 54 minutes. 

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