China Open: Priyanshu Rajawat suffers straight-game defeat, ousted in 1st round

Indian shuttler Priyanshu Rajawat faced his second consecutive first-round exit, losing in straight games to Brian Yang of Canada at the China Open in Changzhou on Tuesday.

Priyanshu, who was ousted by Takuma Obayashi in the first round of the Hong Kong Open last week, lost 13-21, 16-21 in just 36 minutes against Yang.

World No. 24 Yang asserted his dominance from the outset, winning five consecutive points in the opening game, while Priyanshu could only manage two.

The Canadian player maintained control throughout the second game as well, with Priyanshu struggling to counter Yang’s precise placements. Yang's wide reach and ability to dictate the pace also made it difficult for Priyanshu to gain a foothold in the match

Yang’s defensive prowess was on full display, winning 42 rallies compared to Priyanshu's 29. This loss is a significant setback for India, as Priyanshu was considered one of the country’s top contenders in the tournament.

Hailing from Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, Priyanshu reached his first semifinal of the year at the Canada Open Super 500 in July. His last major title came in 2023 when he won the Orleans Masters in Germany.

India’s hopes in the men's singles category at the China Open now rest on Kiran George, who will face a tough test against Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto in the first round on Wednesday.

Several other Indian shuttlers will also be in action on Wednesday, including the women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand.

With senior players like PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, and the top doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty skipping the tournament, the China Open offers a valuable opportunity for the Indian youngsters to prove their mettle in this prestigious Super 1000 event.