Badminton News: Two women’s singles badminton players, K Letshanaa and Goh Jin Wei, had mixed fortunes in the first round of the Korea Open World Tour Super 500 tournament.

Women’s national singles shuttle Letshanaa, making her World Tour debut, cruised to a 21-12, 15-21, 21-18 victory over Taiwan’s Huang Ching Ping to book her place in the second round, but Jin Wei suffered a painful loss.

Goh Jin Wei, who was also involved in a tough battle against Indonesian representative Putri Kusuma Wardani narrowly lost 18-21, 21-14, 19-21.

The independent’s worrying form continued as it was their seventh consecutive first-round loss in the individual tournament.

The 23-year-old, ranked 33rd in the world, is yet to win a match since stunning 2019 world champion India PV Sindhu in the Sudirman Cup group stage last May.

Meanwhile, world number 73 Letshanaa, who wanted to close the gap on Jin Wei, was able to smile after beating her world number 70 opponent.

“It was a tough match and I think I did pretty well,” said Letshanaa, who recently won a national title.

“It’s great to reach the second round of my first World Tour event and I’m looking forward to the next game.”

Letshanaa, who turns 20 next month, faces another tough battle against world number 4 Tai Tzu-ying from Taiwan.

There was also joy for independent S. Kisona who reached the second round after defeating Lauren Lam of the United States 21-19, 21-19.

It is the first time this year that the world number 66 has successfully completed the first round of the World Tour competition.

He will face the Japanese No. 1. World 1 Akane Yamaguchi in the next round.

Meanwhile, world No. 22 Taiwanese Pai Yu-po caused one of the tournament’s biggest shocks by beating Sindhu 21-18, 10-21, 21-13.

It’s been a sad journey for Sindhu, who has just officially announced former international Hafiz Hashim as his new coach.

Article Tags: Goh Jin Wei, K Letshanaa, Korea Open 2023