The Singapore Open 2024 was a tournament marked by mixed fortunes for the Indian badminton contingent.
From unexpected defeats to historic victories, the competition was a rollercoaster ride for both players and fans.
Day 1: A Series of Disappointments
The tournament began on a sour note for India with a series of unexpected losses on the opening day. The most shocking of these was the defeat of the top-seeded men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
They lost in straight games to a pair outside the top 30, a match where, as Chirag said, “they never got going.”
In singles, Rajawat also succumbed in straight games to Lee Cheuk Yiu, though the match could have had a different outcome with a bit more composure towards the end.
Aakarshi faced a narrow defeat, losing the second game 20-22 after leading 19-12. The Panda sisters were outplayed in the decider by the experienced Taipei pair Chang/Yang, and Ashith/Amrutha fell to a higher-ranked mixed doubles pair from Hong Kong.
Day 2: Mixed Fortunes
It brought a blend of victories and defeats. In the battle of couples, the Indian mixed doubles pair put up a valiant fight but ultimately lost to the more experienced Malaysians.
Srikanth had to retire midway through his match due to injury, and Venkat/Juhi were outclassed by their Danish opponents.
PV Sindhu provided a glimmer of hope by winning her match despite being down by four game points.
Lakshya Sen fought hard against Viktor Axelsen but was ultimately ousted by skill and luck (or the lack of it) at the net. Satish/Aadya lost momentum in the decider against Guo/Chen, and Singhi/Thaker had no chance against the formidable Indonesian pair Rahayu/Ramdhanti.
However, Prannoy comfortably advanced after a minor blip in the second game against the rising German star Carragi. Olympic-bound Ashwini/Tanisha faced a shock defeat in a close match against the Polish pair Buhrova/ Kantemyr, which should have been an easy win from an Indian POV.
Krishna/Sai showed flashes of brilliance but fell short against the second-seeded Chinese pair Liang/Wang.
The day ended on a high note with Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand’s dominating win against the Taipei pair Cheng/Sun, restoring some balance for the Indian team.
Day 3: Hopes and Heartbreaks
India’s fortunes take another hit. PV Sindhu was edged out by her long-standing nemesis Carolina Marin, losing 20-22 in the decider, where two consecutive serve errors proved detrimental.
HS Prannoy, despite high expectations, lost 21-15 in the deciding game which he was expected to win against Nishimoto.
Amid these setbacks, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand delivered a stunning performance, upsetting the second-seeded Korean pair Baek/Lee.
They amazingly won the first game 21-9, and closed out the decider 21-15, giving no chance to their opponents towards the business end.
The Historic Semifinal Run
Less than 24 hours later, Treesa and Gayatri faced the sixth-seeded Koreans Kim/Kong. In what can only be described as a comeback for the ages, they rallied from a game and 12-18 down to force a decider, scoring 9 of the next 10 points.
The decider was a tense affair, but the young Indian duo showed commendable composure, converting their fourth match point and not allowing any to their opponents.
Their journey culminated in a historic semifinal appearance, the first by an Indian doubles pair at the Singapore Open this century, where they were facing the pair whom they defeated first from among top 10.
And the first game was as close as it gets but Nami/Shida just about prevailed 23-21. They fought hard but eventually lost in straight games, ending their remarkable run. But WHAT A RUN it was. They were indeed the biggest giant killers of the week gone by.
Conclusion: A Promising Future
Despite the early setbacks, the Singapore Open 2024 showcased the potential and resilience of Indian badminton. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand’s historic run stands out as a beacon of hope, setting their sights on future glories, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Beyond this dynamic duo, other Indian players also showed promise.
PV Sindhu’s fighting spirit continues to inspire, and Prannoy’s solid performance indicates a bright future.
Lakshya Sen and Rajawat’s valiant efforts demonstrated their potential at the highest level. The young talents, along with seasoned players, form a robust foundation for the future of Indian badminton.
India continues to rally behind these athletes, eagerly anticipating their next triumphs on the global stage.
Written by Mohit
