Tokyo

Lakshya Sen registered a stunning straight-game win over Luis Penalver to cruise into the Round of 16 in the ongoing World Badminton Championship on Wednesday.

The Commonwealth games gold medalist was tested in the first game but was dominant in the second to register a 21-17, 21-10 win over Spain’s Penalver.

In the first game, Sen won seven straight points after trailing 4-6 to take a healthy lead to the interval. The Spaniard closed the gap down to two points. But the Indian came up with two high-pace rallies to push ahead again to 18-14. A brilliant smash, inside out and Lakshya sealed the first game 21-17.

The second game was a one-sided affair with Lakshya winning 21-10.

Later in the day, Kidambi Srikanth suffered a shock defeat against Zhao Junpeng of China 9-21, 17-21 in the Round of 32.

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The women’s doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand too crashed out after losing to Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan of Malaysia 8-21, 17-21 in the round of 32 of the women's doubles category.