Latest news with #Nishimoto
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New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] Jun Hao bounces back after Jonassen's criticism
KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Leong Jun Hao said he is "working well" with Kenneth Jonassen after his game was criticised by the national singles coaching director last week following a first-round exit at the Japan Open. This evidently has led to Jun Hao bouncing back at the China Open today where the world No. 26 upset Japan's world No. 13 Kenta Nishimoto 21-15, 21-18 in 45 minutes at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Changzhou. In the Japan Open, the 26-year-old Jun Hao had lost 21-12, 21-14 to France's world No. 9 Alex Lanier in straight games. This led to Jonassen bluntly remarking that Jun Hao lacked the consistency needed to compete at the top level. However, Jun Hao recovered impressively against Nishimoto, showing composure and control throughout the match to secure a second-round berth. "We are working well together, but I suppose that under certain conditions I still need time to adapt to the new techniques," said Jun Hao in a post-match interview with BWF. "When you're trying out a different playing style, it takes more time to build chemistry and get the strategy right." Jun Hao attributed his win over Nishimoto to better shots control despite the challenging court conditions. "I managed to control the shuttle well despite the draught at the stadium," he said. "The conditions were tricky because the draught was quite strong." Jun Hao will next face Thailand's world No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the second round. "I'll focus on recovery first. I've got a full day tomorrow to rest. Then we'll work on a game plan against Kunlavut." Meanwhile, Malaysia's world No. 53 men's doubles Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri were shown the exit by Indonesia's new combination of Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Shohibul Fikri 21-11, 21-10 in 22 minutes in the first round. .
News18
06-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
Kidambi Srikanth Loses To Kenta Nishimoto In Canada Open Semifinal
Last Updated: Kidambi Srikanth won the opening game before his opponent bounced back to take the next two and enter final. India's Kidambi Srikanth was defeated by Japan's Kenta Nishimoto with scores of 21-19, 14-21, 18-21 in the semifinal of the Canada Open Super 300 badminton tournament on Saturday. Srikanth began the match strongly, clinching the first game 21-19, but Nishimoto responded fiercely in the next two games, ultimately winning the match, which lasted one hour and 18 minutes. In the decisive game, the scores were tied at 18-18 when Nishimoto capitalised on a weak return and then Srikanth's wide shots twice handed the match to the Japanese player. Earlier, Srikanth, a former world championships silver medallist who reached the finals of the Malaysia Masters in May, defeated world number six Chou Tien-Chen 21-18, 21-9 in a 43-minute quarterfinal clash on Friday. S Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian, the 2022 World Junior Championships silver medallist, fought valiantly before losing to Nishimoto with scores of 15-21, 21-5, 17-21 in a gruelling 79-minute quarterfinal. In women's singles, Shriyanshi Valishetty's impressive run ended after she lost to Denmark's Amalie Schulz. First Published: July 06, 2025, 12:03 IST
NDTV
06-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Kidambi Srikanth Loses In Canada Open Semifinal Against Japan's Kenta Nishimoto
India's Kidambi Srikanth lost to Japan's Kenta Nishimoto 21-19, 14-21, 18-21 in the semifinal of the Canada Open Super 300 badminton tournament in Calgary on Saturday. Srikanth had made a strong start to the contest winning the first game 21-19 but his Japanese opponent fought back hard in the next two to win the game which lasted one hour and 18 minutes. In the decider, the scores were levelled 18-18 when Nishimoto pounced on a weak return and then Srikanth sprayed wide twice to hand over the match to the Japanese. Earlier, the former world championships silver medallist, who had reached the finals of the Malaysia Masters in May this year, outclassed world number six Chou Tien-Chen 21-18 21-9 in a 43-minute quarterfinal clash on Friday. S Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian, the 2022 World Junior Championships silver medallist, produced a gallant fight before going down to Nishimoto 15-21 21-5 17-21 in a gruelling 79-minute quarterfinal. In women's singles, Shriyanshi Valishetty's impressive run came to an end after she lost to Denmark's Amalie Schulz.
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Canada Open badminton: Srikanth Kidambi misses golden chance to end title drought, loses rollercoaster semifinal in three games
Srikanth Kidambi's semifinal at the Canada Open Super 300 in Ontario presented a golden opportunity to end the BWF World Tour title drought. With Kodai Naraoka losing the other semifinal, it was a big chance for Srikanth to go all the way… but, in the here and now, Kenta Nishimoto wasn't going to be easy to overcome. He is not the kind of player Srikanth – at least the more recent version – likes facing. The Indian led the Head-to-Head coming into the contest but hadn't faced Nishimoto, world No 12, since 2023. As it turned out, Srikanth lost a topsy-turvy contest 21-19, 14-21, 18-21 in 78 minutes, a match that he both controlled and struggled to control in various phases. A 24-shot rally in the early stages was an indication of the challenge that Srikanth would face against Nishimoto but also a good sign for the Indian as he was willing to stay in the point patiently. Both players struggled with their radar in the first half of the opening game, especially on the crosscourt shots. Srikanth did have success with a couple of half-smashes across the court and levelled things at 10-10 with one of those. Earlier in the tournament, he had Priyanshu Rajawat on coaching duties, a day after taking on and defeating the youngster who he trains with in Hyderabad. On Saturday, it was Sankar Subramanian – who had stretched Nishimoto in the quarterfinal a day before – on coaching duties for Srikanth, who trailed 10-11 at the mid-game interval of the opener. The Indian moved ahead into the lead after the interval but there was very little to separate them till 15-15. The rally at 15-15 saw Srikanth win the point with the rush and kill at the net that he employed to great effect at Malaysia Masters until his run to the final. He kept his nose ahead from there and Nishimoto was left standing with his hands on hips as Srikanth took the opening game with a little bit of help from the net cord. Top of the tape, the shuttle fell on the other side. Srikanth won 4 straight points from 16-18 down. In Game 2, a sensational challenge from Srikanth right out of the interval – a down-the-line smash was called out – was a measure of how well the Indian was seeing the bird fly, and it helped him take a 12-8 lead. But Nishimoto is known for his tenacity on court, and Srikanth's unforced errors started to creep in as the third seed made it a 1-point game at 11-12. The point at 12-12 was one of the best of the match as Srikanth dictated the tempo on attack while Nishimoto threw himself around on the court in defence before the Indian eventually won the 36-shot exchange, the longest of the match. But Srikanth couldn't press the advantage from there on as Nishimoto opened up a 17-14 lead with a fabulous backhand defensive block. That seemed to take the fight out of Srikanth as the lead soon swelled to 20-14 on the back of three straight errors from the Indian's racket. Nishimoto needed just one game point to take the match into a decider as Srikanth's indecision in the backcourt – not for the first time in this sequence of points – cost him. Srikanth started the third game like he was hungover from the ending of the second, making bizarre mistakes on the sidelines and sliding to a 1-6 deficit. He started to pump himself up with the few points that he won, perhaps trying to will himself back into the match that he appeared to be in control of not that long ago. An inside-out crosscourt winner from Srikanth for 4-7 floored Nishimoto, who does tend to go down on the court needlessly at times to force a mopping break. He did it again at 6-8 as Srikanth's backhand clear appeared to wrong-foot him. The Indian let out his biggest roar yet as he raced into the lead at 9-8, on a run of five straight points, made it 10-8 with another self-affirming roar, and took a three-point lead into the final change of ends after a wasted review from Nishimoto, who suddenly lost all of his momentum. At 14-9, Srikanth looked to be in a comfortable lead but a couple of missed smashes – first into the net and then just wide of the sideline – were gloomy reminders that the match wasn't a done deal just yet. A backhand smash from Srikanth swung back into the court with sideways drift and helped the Indian to a 15-12 lead but Nishimoto refused to go away. The third seed made it 17-17 as Srikanth missed the entire green playing area with his attempted forehand lift. The point at 17-17 was a sensational effort from the Indian, throwing himself around on the ground before nailing a round-the-head smash winner. But in the blink of an eye, Nishimoto had two match points as Srikanth's attempt hold-and-flick proved to be the wrong choice at the end of an otherwise good rally. And eventually, the match ended with an unforced error from Srikanth. It is how he has always played – pushing the lines, always tending towards the more attacking option, but he'd be ruing those errors at the start and end of Game 3. Vinayakk Mohanarangan is Senior Assistant Editor and is based in New Delhi. ... Read More
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Canada Open: Kidambi Srikanth beats World No 6 in straight sets to set up semis with Nishimoto
It was calm sailing for India's former World Championship silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth as he made the semis of the Super 300 Canada Open winning 21-18, 21-9 against Chou Tien Chen on Friday night at Ontario. The win against the top seed – with the Taiwanese losing to an Indian a second time in two weeks after going doen to Ayush Shetty at Iowa last week – sees Srikanth extend his Malaysia Masters run and wonderful strokeplay continue on another continent. Srikanth had missed out last week, but will be keen on picking a title his first this season. It's been sustained good quality badminton from Srikanth after a long time, and he seems to be enjoying this near no-pressure phase of his career, while still playing that ethereal game of a Top Tenner. However that dazzle will run into the determination of Japanese Kenta Nishimoto on Saturday. Srikanth, 32, leads the head to heads 6-4 against the 30-year-old. Srikanth had beaten the Japanese, who tends to be prickly for several other Indians in straight sets at the last World Championship but the stubborn runner is never easy and has been consistent this season. Former WR 1 Srikanth Kidambi Into The Semi Finals Of The BWF Canada Open 2025 🥹❤️ He Defeated WR 6 Chou Tien Chen In Straight Games !!!🇮🇳 21-18 , 21-9 🇹🇼 What A Match It Was And A Superb Victory For Srikanth ❤️💥 SF vs Kenta Nishimoto 🇯🇵#CanadaOpen2025 — Badminton Media (@BadmintonMedia1) July 5, 2025 Seeded third here, Nishimoto is the first Japanese roadblock ahead for Srikanth finally winning a title after several seasons of a dignified struggle with form and fitness. His game though has remained brilliantly engaging and watchable in a sea of defensive slugfests. But up ahead, if Srikanth gets past Nishimoto, there's potentially Kodai Naraoka, top seed, against whom he's 0-4, a four-score to settle. Nishimoto prevailed over a fighting Sankar Muthusamy Subramaniam, winning 21-15, 5-21, 21-17. In women's singles, Shriyanshi Valishetty, another talented teenager from India, went down in a proper battle to Danish 24-year-old Amalie Schulz, 21-12, 19-21-19-21. Shriyanshi had late fightbacks in both second and third sets but never actually led after picking tge first. She did well to cover a 9-17 deficit in the decider to cone up to 19-20, but couldn't turn the knife in the endgame, finishing a good North American swing.
