India Open 2018, First Round: Kidambi Srikanth vs Lee Cheuk Yiu, Live Match Updates

Srikanth wins 21-17, 21-18

Updated: 31 January 2018 15:28 IST - Published: 31 January 2018 11:50 IST

That wraps up our live coverage of the India Open 2018 Day 2.

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And with this win, he joins Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu in the second round.

That was a good performance from the India No. 1, despite some fightback from his opponent. It will surely stand him in good stead as the tournament progresses.

And Srikanth indeed does!

Lee sends a crosscourt shot wide and the Indian wins and marches into R2.

21-17, 21-18

19-18 to the former champion

Lee is fighting back very well.

Can Srikanth close it out here?

Srikanth smashes into the net.

18-17

Srikanth leads 18-16

17-14 to the former champion

Lee reduced the deficit to three points after some strong play.

12-15

15-10 to the India No. 1, who is looking very much in command now

Big crosscourt smash by the Indian and he is up 13-8

It's 11-8 to the India No. 1 going into the mid-game interval.

And Sri proceeds to 9-8 after Lee fumbles at the net

Lee takes a slender lead of one point.

7-6

And it is 5-5

But good comeback from Lee. He has made the game all even now.
4-4

Some great exchanges at the net to begin the second game with.

Srikanth leads 2-0

And he gets the job done.

First game to Srikanth

21-17

Srikanth now has three game points.

20-17

It's 18-15 to the India No. 1

The pace of the match has picked up. A lot more aggression from both players but it is Srikanth, who looks comfortable at the moment.

Up 16-12

The game continues to be highly competitive.

The Indian is barely ahead at 12-11

It's 11-10 to Srikanth going into the midgame interval.

Srikanth cuts down the errors and makes it 9-7

Srikanth sends the shuttle long after a great rally and it is 6-6

Srikanth rushes to the net and makes it 5-5

And 3-3

They are evenly poised in the initial stages.

2-2

And we are under way!

Srikanth leads 1-0

Welcome to the blog. After the first round wins of both Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu, we now turn our attention to Kidambi Srikanth's first round match.

Welcome to the Sportskeeda's live blog of the India Open 2018 first round match of Kidambi Srikanth. The Indian, who is one of the favourites to take home the title, is the second seed.

The former champion will get his season underway today and it will be interesting to see if he can replicate last year’s monumental efforts.
Srikanth starts off against Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu, whom he should be able to beat without breaking a sweat. Then he should run into Denmark’s Emil Holst, and if all according to plan, the 24-year-old Indian ace is expected to cross swords with another Danish player, seventh-seeded Anders Antonsen, in the quarter-final.

In absence of Viktor Axelson, it is expected the Srikanth will go on to claim the trophy and we hope that he does but first he has to overcome his first obstacle.