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Indian Sports LIVE, Jan 17: Srikanth, Tanisha-Ashwini exit India Open - ESPN

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Indian Sports LIVE, Jan 17: Srikanth, Tanisha-Ashwini exit India Open - ESPN

ESPN's daily live blog is your best source of news for Indian sports, with a convenient, all-encompassing page for everything to do with the wide variety of Olympic sports and franchise leagues.

The India Open takes centre-stage with Satwik-Chirag in action, while the Indian cricket team faces up to Afghanistan today.

The live blog is updated throughout the day, so keep checking back for updates and analysis.

Here are the key updates from January 17, Wednesday:


India Open: Srikanth crashes out in first round

Kidambi Srikanth crashed out in the first round of the India Open 750 in a very Srikanth manner, squandering his advantage, failing to finish his points and splaying errors all over court. The Indian world No 25 lost to Hong Kong's world No 18 Lee Cheuk Yiu 24-22, 13-21.

Srikanth started well, backed by a boisterous home crowd with innovative chants. He had the early lead 11-7 at the interval and was finding his shots in the face of resolute defence from his opponent. But at 17-14, he let the momentum slip and lost six straight points go three game points down. He saved all of them, two with edgy one the line winners and then a jump smash to bring up game point of his own. The next jump smash went completely off the rails to give up another game point and eventually lose the game he was leading in.

His level dropped completely in the second game, going down 11-2 in the interval. There was a slightly better show in the final half but he kept leaking errors and ultimately that cost him another early exit.


India Open: Tanisha-Ashwini bow out in first round

The Indian women's doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa - Tanisha Crasto went down to world No. 10 Thai combination of Rawinda Prajongjai and Jongkolphan Kititharakul 5-21, 21-18, 21-11 in a match that showcased both what makes them so good and where they need to improve.

The Indians, still new to the highest level of BWF Tour as a pair, were outplayed in the first game. They regrouped impressively in the interval to come out all guns blazing in the second. Tanisha, the younger of the 2 was particularly impressive with her strokeplay and there were several eye catching points as she moved all over to place her shots while Ashwini employed her smashes well. But their relative inexperience showed as the matches came to the end.

Last week they caused an upset beating the world No 4 pair at the Malaysia Open Super 1000. But they could not replicate that this time.

Highlights included a pacy rally in which Ashwini left court mid-point to change her racquet but Tanisha's speed kept them in play Another sensational rally for 18-16 where Tanisha parried back quick and strong and then Ashwini stepped up the smash back, finally finding the corner beautifully for a winner.

The big takeaway for them is that they need to play a lot more at this level to get accustomed. The raw materials are there, it's a matter of match time now.


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What happened yesterday?

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