Japan Open: Ginting, Lee Zii Jia Bite the Dust

World No.2 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, who was in the final of three of his last four events, crashed out in his opening test at the DAIHATSU Japan Open 2023.

His vanquisher was Kanta Tsuneyama, who had a 3-3 career record against the Indonesian going into the match. Tsuneyama shut Ginting out in 44 minutes, 21-13 21-18.

Tsuneyama’s compatriot Kenta Nishimoto, the defending champion, enjoyed a morale-boosting opening win, as he held off Lee Zii Jia in a thriller, 20-22 21-17 21-19. Nishimoto faces third seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn next, while Tsuneyema is up against Lakshya Sen, who survived a close battle against compatriot Priyanshu Rajawat, 21-15 12-21 24-22.

Sen versus Tsuneyama next.

There was another significant result for Japanese fans, with two-time champion Kento Momota crashing out to younger compatriot Koki Watanabe, 13-21 21-16 21-13.

Meanwhile, Pusarla V Sindhu’s poor season continued, as she fell in her second straight first round match. The Indian was outplayed in just 32 minutes by Zhang Yiman in what was her seventh first round loss this year.

Highlights

On a high after winning their last two events, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty did not falter against Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin, winning in three games.

Women’s doubles second seed Baek Ha Na/Lee So Hee faced off against former partners Lee Yu Lim/Shin Seung Chan for the first time, earning a straight-games victory at 21-14 21-18.

Recent Korea Open champion Anders Antonsen weathered the opening challenge of Lu Guang Zu with a straightforward 21-12 21-14 result.

Results (Day 2)

Order of play (Day 3)

BWF World Tour News

Title Sponsor