Changzhou, July 21 -- Indian shuttlers suffered a disappointing start to the China Open 2026 badminton tournament after both HS Prannoy and Devika Sihag bowed out in the first round here in the People's Republic of China on Tuesday.
Competing at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, Prannoy, 36th in the men's singles badminton rankings, lost 21-10, 21-14 against world No. 27 Leong Jun Hao of Malaysia.
Prannoy's first-round exit also extended his disappointing run in 2026, with the Asian Games medallist yet to progress beyond the second round in any of the eight tournaments that he has contested this season.
Struggling to find his rhythm from the outset, the 34-year-old Prannoy trailed 11-2 at the interval before conceding the first game w...