Sixth-seed Srikanth marked a successful return to competitive badminton at the Macau Open 2024 after overcoming an injury sustained during the Singapore Open earlier this year in May. In his first match back, Srikanth faced off against Israel's Daniil Dubovenko, securing a straight games victory with scores of 21-14, 21-15. The match, which lasted 35 minutes, showcased Srikanth's skill and resilience as he confidently navigated his way back into the tournament.
With this win, the former world number one is set to encounter fellow Indian Ayush Shetty in the second round on Thursday (September 26). Shetty earned his place in the next round following a dominant performance against Alap Mishra, winning in straight games with a convincing score of 21-13, 21-5 in just 29 minutes. This upcoming matchup will feature an exciting all-Indian contest in the BWF Super 300 tournament, and fans are eager to see how both players perform.
In mixed doubles, the duo of Sikki Reddy and B. Sumeeth Reddy commenced their Macau Open campaign with a challenging but rewarding victory. They faced Malaysia's Loo Bing Kun and Ho Lo Ee, winning the match 24-22, 10-21, 21-13 after a hard-fought 58 minutes. Their determination paid off, and they will now advance to face another Malaysian pair, Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien, in the second round.
However, not all Indian pairs had the same success on the day. Rohan Kapoor and Gadde Ruthvika Shivani experienced a tough exit, losing in a close contest against the eighth-seeded Thai pair, Ruttanapak Oupthong and Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat. The Indian duo battled hard but ultimately fell short, losing with scores of 21-23, 22-24 in a match that lasted 47 minutes.
In the women’s singles draw, Anupama Upadhyaya and Tanya Hemanth also faced early exits. Both players suffered defeats in their respective matches on Wednesday (September 25), which marked a disappointing end to their campaigns in the tournament.
Overall, while Srikanth's return to form is a positive highlight for Indian badminton at the Macau Open, the mixed fortunes of other players indicate the challenges that lie ahead. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Srikanth as he seeks to build on his winning momentum and make a deeper run in the competition.
