Kiran George advances to second round

<a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/lakshya-sen-and-malvika-bansod-to-lead-india-to-asia-team-badminton-championships/” title=”Lakshya Sen and Malvika Bansod to lead India to Asia Team Badminton Championships”>Kiran George progressed to the second round of the men’s singles event at the Korea Masters 2024 badminton tournament in Iksan City, the Republic of Korea, on Wednesday.

World No. 41 Kiran George, the only Indian badminton player competing at the BWF Super 300 tournament in South Korea, had to come from behind to beat Vietnam’s world No. 65 Nguyen Hai Dang by a 15-21, 21-12, 21-15 scoreline.

Kiran George, a quarter-finalist at the Indonesia Masters and Swiss Open from earlier this year, started sluggishly and was always playing catch up to his Vietnamese opponent in the first game.

However, the 24-year-old Indian shuttler got his act together in the second game. Starting off with six back-to-back points, George swung the momentum in his favour and drew level in quick time.

The decider, too, followed a similar pattern as the Indian led from start to end to wrap up the badminton contest in 57 minutes.

Kiran George will face Chinese Taipei’s Chi Yu Jen in the second round on Thursday. Jen, seeded third, beat local player Park Sang Yong, 21-14, 21-18 in his first round encounter.

India’s Ayush Shetty, in men’s singles, and Imad Farooqui Samiya, in women’s singles, were also in the entry list for the South Korea meet but both have pulled out.

No Indian has ever won a title in any event at the Korea Masters.