Suncheon: India’s P V Sindhu registered a comprehensive win over Japan’s Aya Ohori to move into the quarterfinals of the Korea Open. The dominant Indian, fresh from her title triumph in the Swiss Open, defeated Ohori 21-15, 21-10. World number seven Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, got the better of world number 26 Ohori to take her head-to-head count against the Japanese to an overwhelming 12-0 in 13 meetings.
The third-seeded Indian will next face a familiar foe in Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan, whom she had defeated in the final of the Swiss Open last month. The former world champion, who has claimed two Super 300 titles this season at Syed Modi International and Swiss Open, enjoys a 16-1 lead in 17 meetings against the world number 11 Thai.
Meanwhile, World Championship bronze medallist Lakshya Sen’s run at the Korea Open Super 500 badminton tournament ended with a straight-game loss to the lower-ranked Shesar Hiren Rhustavito in the second round here on Thursday. The world number nine Indian went down 20-22 9-21 to the world number 24 Indonesian in 33 minutes.
The country’s other fast-rising shuttler Malvika Bansod also failed to advance to the quarterfinals as she was brushed aside by Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong 8-21 14-21 in a second-round women’s singles clash that lasted 39 minutes.
Sixth seed Sen, who has been in sensational form in the last six months with back-to-back final finishes at German Open and All England Championships, was pipped by Rhustavito in the closely-fought first game. The 20-year-old Indian then lost steam and struggled in the second to concede the tie meekly. India’s Kidambi Srikanth will take on Israel’s Zilberman later today.