Kashyap loses in quarters as Indian challenge ends at Japan Open

India's challenge at the Japan Open ended on Friday as Parupalli Kashyap was beaten by sixth seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei in the men's singles quarter-finals.

The world No. 8 was beaten 14-21, 18-21 in 42 minutes at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

Kashyap was the lone Indian to make it to the quarter-finals after Saina Nehwal was beaten 13-21, 16-21 by local star and world No. 18 Minatsu Mitani in the second round of the women's singles. The Japanese had earlier accounted for P V Sindhu in her previous match.

Kashyap had knocked out compatriot and world No. 4 Srikanth 21-11, 21-19 on Thursday.

Chen opened up a 5-2 lead in the first game and even though Kashyap drew parity scoring three points, the sixth seed broke away eight, consolidated and took the game.

A better fight was expected from Kashyap in the second, but after leading 4-2, he was unable to sustain the pressure from the Chinese, who rattled off six straight points to lead 8-4.

Kashyap fought back gamely and narrowed down Chen’s lead to 18-20, but that was all he was allowed.

"I could not play my game today. There was a lot of mis-hitting the shuttle and also I made a few wrong judgements," Kashyap said.

"I got my flow in the second game in the end but it was too late by then. He is playing very well nowadays," he added.

Kashyap next plays in the Korea Open.

Ajay Jayaram bowed out in the first round, going down 10-21, 10-21 to Viktor Axelsen of Denmark.

Glasgow Commonwealth Games silver medallists Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa went down fighting 20-22, 21-18, 13-21 to Zhao Yunlei and Zhong Qianxin of China.

The doubles combine of Pradnya Gadre and N Sikki Reddy also suffered an early exit, losing 6-21, 17-21 to top seeds Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi of Japan.