Ayush, Unnati, Lakshya bow out in dismal day for India at Japan Open
All three Indians fell in the Round of 32, with Koki Watanabe, Huang Yu-Hsun and Kunlavut Vitidsarn advancing to the Japan Open last 16.
- On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Indian shuttlers Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, and Unnati Hooda were eliminated in the opening round of the BWF Japan Open in Tokyo, marking a disappointing day for India.
- Sen, a runner-up at the All England Championships, struggled against local favorite Koki Watanabe, losing 16-21, 14-21 in a 38-minute match that improved the Japanese player's head-to-head record to 4-3.
- Battling through an 82-minute clash, Shetty lost to former world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand, while Hooda fell to Chinese Taipei's Huang Yu-Hsun after winning the first game at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
- Two-Time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu and the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto remain India's only hopes in the USD 950,000 tournament, with Sindhu facing China's Han Yue on Thursday.
- India is set to host the World Championships in New Delhi next month after a 17-year gap, raising concerns about the team's form following these early exits as the nation prepares for the high-profile event.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Japan Open 2026: Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty Crash out as India's Men's Singles Campaign Ends
Get latest articles and stories on Sports at LatestLY. India's challenge in the men's singles draw at the Japan Open 2026 came to an early end after Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty suffered first-round defeats at the BWF Super 750 tournament at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Wednesday. Sports News | Japan Open 2026: Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty Crash out as India's Men's Singles Campaign Ends.
Japan Open 2026: Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty crash out as Indias mens singles campaign ends - The Tribune
India's challenge in the men's singles draw at the Japan Open 2026 came to an early end after Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty suffered first-round defeats at the BWF Super 750 tournament at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Wednesday.
Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda Bow Out In Dismal Day For India At Japan Open
Young shuttlers Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda put up gallant fights before bowing out, while Lakshya Sen went down in straight games as India endured a disappointing second day at the Japan Open.
Ayush, Unnati, Lakshya bow out in dismal day for India at Japan Open
Ayush, a finalist at the Asia Championships, showed grit to recover after losing the opening game but ran out of steam in the end, going down 19-21 25-23 15-21 to second seed and former world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in an 82-minute clash.
Lakshya Sen Vs Koki Watanabe Highlights, Japan Open 2026: Indian Shuttler Crashes Out In Opening Round
Japan Open 2026 Badminton Highlights, Lakshya Sen vs Koki Watanabe: Catch play-by-play updates from the BWF Super 750 Japan Open 2026 Round of 32 clash between World No. 14 Lakshya Sen and World No. 17 Koki Watanabe on Wednesday, July 15, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
India falters at Japan Open: Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty knocked out in first round
Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty joined India's early exits at the Japan Open after first-round defeats. The losses deepened a difficult week for India ahead of next month's World Championships.
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