Japan Open 2023: Srikanth defeats World No. 8, Prannoy beats Li Shi Feng to set up an all-India pre-quarters clash

Tokyo, July 25: Ace India shuttlers Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy prevailed over their opponents in their respective opening singles matches in the Japan Open 2023 in Tokyo on Tuesday (July 25).

The duo entered the round of 16 with their wins and even set up an all-India match in the round of 16. The Indian duo will take on each other in the pre-quarter-finals.

Srikanth, the former world no. 1, got the better of Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien Chen in straight games 21-13, 21-13 in the round of 32 encounters.s Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy climb to career-best second in BWF World Rankings

The world championship silver medallist was supposed to face the winner between compatriot Prannoy and All England 2023 champion China's Li Shi Feng in the round of 16 on Thursday (July 27).

Later in the day, continuing his good form, Prannoy got the better of Li Shi Feng of China in straight games. Prannoy - the World no. 10 Indian men's singles shuttler - registered a comfortable 21-17, 21-13 win over Chinese shuttler, who is currently ranked world no. 6, in his round of 32 clash.

Meanwhile, in the women's singles, PV Sindhu will be up against Zhang Yi Man in the opening round. The Hyderabadi shuttler - who has dropped to 18th in the current BWF rankings - won against Yi Man in the Malaysian Open quarterfinals, en route to her semi-final finish in May this year. With the latest win, Sindhu has a 2-2 win-loss record against the 20th-ranked Chinese.

The tournament will also mark the return of ace youngster Lakshya Sen, who took a break and skipped the Korea Open after winning the Canada Open earlier this month. Up and coming youngster Priyanshu Rajawat and Sen will face each other in an all-Indian opening-round clash.

Should Sen get past Rajawat, he may face a tough test in second-seeded Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia in the next round. National champion Mithun Manjunath, who was promoted to the draw, will be opening against China's Weng Hong Yang.