Indian shuttlers exit Japan Open

The Indian challenge at the $200,000 Japan Open Super Series ended here Friday after shuttlers Ajay Jayaram, K. Srikanth and H.S. Prannoy lost their respective men's singles quarterfinals at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

Fifth seeded Vietnamese Tien Minh Nguyen overcame Mumbai's Jayaram in straight games in 40 minutes. The 2013 World Championship bronze medallist came out victorious 21-18, 21-13 to win his third match in four meetings against the Indian.

Though Jayaram matched the Vietnamese in the first game, Nguyen came out on top in the end with the help of some down the line smashes. The second game was completely dominated by the fifth seed, who took away the game and match.

The Indian's net play was better but Nguyen's smashes proved to be the key between the two.

Eslewhere, Japanese seventh seed Kenichi Tago made short work of Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold winner Srikanth in 39 minutes. The local player won 21-18, 21-9 in their first ever match to proceed to the semifinals.

Prannoy gave a good fight to China's Huan Gao, taking his much higher ranked opponent to the decider. But Gao won 21-11, 20-22, 21-13 in a marathon match which lasted an hour and 13 minutes in their first meeting.