Hylo Open Opener: Sindhu, Lakshya Through; Prannoy Out

Saarbrucken, Germany: PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen both advanced to the second round of the BWF Hylo Open on Wednesday. Several other Indian players also progressed in the BWF Super 500 tournament, though HS Prannoy lost and exited.

Prannoy was beaten in straight games by France's sixth seed Toma Junior Popov. He had chances in the first game but could not convert them, and the match ended in two games.

Sindhu, seeded second, was in excellent form after her runner-up finish at the French Open last week. She beat UAE's Prakriti Bhat 21-10, 21-10 in just 28 minutes. She maintained her dominance throughout both games.

Lakshya Sen, the seventh seed, was tested by Finland's Joakim Oldorf. He lost the first game 16-21 but then raised his level, winning 21-9 and 21-13 to complete a comeback victory in just over an hour. Kiran George beat Malaysia's Cheam June Wei 21-18, 21-17 in straight games to move ahead.

In men's singles, Tarun Mannepalli lost to Chinese Taipei's Chi Yu Jen, while Shankar Subramanian was beaten by Finland's Kalle Koljonen. Ayush Shetty withdrew before the tournament after an injury sustained at the French Open last week.

Unnati Hooda, the sixth seed in women's singles, fought back after a slow start to beat Czechia's Terezija Svabikova 17-21, 21-12, 21-11. She lost the first game but took charge of the match thereafter.

Ishaarani Baruah stood out with a 21-19, 21-9 win over Germany's Miranda Wilson. Anmol Kharb also advanced after beating Sri Lanka's Ranithma Liyanage 21-18, 22-20, staying composed in a tense second game.

Malvika Bansod won the all-Indian clash against Devika Sihag. After dropping the first game 18-21, she won 21-10, 21-14 to reach the next round.

There were more setbacks for India in women's singles. Ashmita Chaliha took the first game against Bulgaria's Kaloyana Nalbantova but lost 18-21, 21-12, 21-8. Akarshi Kashyap was eliminated after losing 21-12, 21-18 to Ukraine's Polina Buhrova.