Kashyap loses; Ajay, Guru reach pre-quarters

Indian shuttlers Ajay Jayaram and RMV Gurusaidutt reached the pre-quarterfinals of the Indonesian Super Series Premier but it turned out to be a bad day in office for world number 10 Parupalli Kashyap as he crashed out of the men’s singles competition, on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old Kashyap was not in his elements and was completely outclassed by former world number six Sho Sasaki of Japan 7-21, 8-21 in his campaign opener. However, World No. 28 Jayaram and Gurusaidutt notched up contrasting victories later in the day to keep India afloat in the men’s singles event. While Jayaram struggled past World No. 71 Riyanto Subagja of Indonesia 22-20, 8-21, 21-12 in a 49-minute hard-fought battle, Gurusaidutt, ranked 25th, got the better off another local player Andre Kurniawan Tedjono 22-20, 21-16.

Jayaram will take on fourth seed Sony Dwi Kuncoro. Gurusaidutt will meet the winner of the match between seventh seed Dane Jan O Jorgensen and Japan’s Kazumasa Sakai. In the women’s doubles, Indian pair of Aparna Balan and Siki Reddy N suffered a 12-21, 17-21 defeat to Gebby Imawan and Tiara Rosalia Nuraidah to end their campaign on Tuesday.