New Delhi: Japan’s former World No. 1 Kento Momota lost the opening match of his first tournament of the season, beaten by World No. 20 Rasmus Gemke of Denmark 15-21, 11-21 on Tuesday at the 2023 India Open.
Momota who is currently ranked World No. 18 and just recovered from flu, seemed to have no answer to Gemke’s attacks and surrendered in just 49 minutes.
Gemke will play World No. 12 Lakshya Sen of India in the second round. Sen defeated compatriot and World No. 9 HS Prannoy 21-14, 21-15 in the first round.
In other men’s singles actions, World No. 5 Chou Tien Chen had to work hard to see off Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong 22-20, 14-21, 21-11 to set up a second-round battle with teammate Wang Tzu Wei.
China’s Shi Yuqi was also pushed to the distance by Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo of Indonesia before beating Wardoyo 20-22, 21-16, 21-15 in 60 minutes. Shi could potentially set up a second-round encounter with World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen who just won the Malaysia Open last Sunday.
Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin (men’s doubles), Goh Jin Wei (women’s singles), and Vivian Hoo/Lim Chiew Sien (women’s doubles) all lost their respective first-round matches on Tuesday. Goh/Izzuddin succumbed to Ren Xiang Yu/Tan Qiang of China 19-21, 17-21, Goh went down to Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand 13-21, 11-21, while Hoo/Lim did not fight for Li Wen Mei/Liu Xuan Xuan of China by losing 16-21, 9-21.
