Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth Storm Into Kumamoto Masters Quarterfinals

India's Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth advanced to the men's singles quarterfinals of the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500 badminton tournament with impressive victories on Thursday, keeping India's campaign alive in the competition.

Eighth-seeded Lakshya continued his winning momentum following his recent Hylo Open title in Germany, defeating China's Dong Tian Yao in straight games. The Indian produced a dominant performance to register a 21-8, 21-14 victory and book his place in the last eight.

Lakshya controlled proceedings from the beginning, using his attacking game and sharp court movement to keep his Chinese opponent under pressure. The World No. 13 never allowed Dong to settle into the contest and comfortably wrapped up the match.

Kidambi Srikanth, meanwhile, pulled off an impressive upset by defeating Japan's fifth seed and World No. 8 Kodai Naraoka in a three-game battle.

Srikanth started strongly, taking the opening game 21-15, but Naraoka fought back to claim the second 21-11. The Indian regrouped in the decider and held his nerve during the closing stages to secure a 21-18 victory, completing a 21-15, 11-21, 21-18 win.

Srikanth will next face Japan's Koki Watanabe, while Lakshya is set to take on another Japanese shuttler, Yushi Tanaka, in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Lakshya, a 2021 World Championships bronze medallist, entered the tournament on the back of his triumph at the Hylo Open and is looking to maintain his form. He had also reached the semifinals of the Kumamoto Masters last year.

The Indian challenge in the doubles events, however, suffered setbacks earlier in the tournament, with the mixed doubles combinations of Dhruv Rawat-K Maneesha and Hariharan Amsakarunan-Tanisha Crasto exiting in the opening round.

With both Lakshya and Srikanth reaching the last eight, India will now look to secure two semifinal spots at the Japanese tournament.