Tough road for Kashyap at Indonesian Open Super Series 2013

Top Indian male shuttler, Parupalli Kashyap has a tough road ahead when he marches on to play the Indonesia Open Super Series 2013 in Jakarta, commencing from 10th June, 2013.

Kashyap will kick-off his campaign against Sho Sasaki of Japan. The Japanese had won the lone meeting between the two, way back in 2008 at the Syed Modi Indian Grand Prix in three sets. However, Kashyap wouldn’t mind playing Sasaki, ranked no. 19 in the world, as the latter has been struggling these days.

Should Kashyap clear the first round hurdle, he will potentially face eighth seed Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand in the round of 16. The 26-year-old Indian has emerged victorious thrice out of the four meetings between the two.

If Kashyap manages to get past Ponsana, he will have a mountain to climb in front of him as he will be likely to clash with the world no. 1 and top seed Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia. The Malaysian legend has won both the meetings between the two including the London Olympics quarterfinal encounter.

After winning the Syed Modi Indian Grand Prix, Kashyap has not been in his prime form. Kashyap, who has 158 career wins in his kitty, lost to the Athens Olympic Gold medallist Taufiq Hidayat of Indonesia in the first round of the Yonex Sunrise Indian Open 2013, in a gruelling three-setter match.

Following the Indian Open, Kashyap featured in the Sudirman Cup where he lost to world no. 2 Chen Long in the tie against China but produced a comprehensive victory over Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka in the match-up against Indonesia.

Let’s hope that Parupalli Kashyap, who has had the career high rank of no. 6, makes a decent run at this ‘prestigious’ tournament!