Pranaav-Sikki beaten in Japan Open semis

India's campaign ended at the Japan Open Super Series after the mixed doubles pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N Sikki Reddy lost narrowly in the semi-finals, in Tokyo, on Saturday.

Pranaav and Sikki, who won the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold title in Lucknow earlier this year, squandered the advantage of winning the opening

game and went down 21-14, 15-21, 19-21 to the local pair of Takuro Hoki and Sayaka Hirota.

The Indian pair fought hard during the 60-minute battle and managing a 7-4 lead early on before the Japanese combo drew abreast at 9-9.

The Indians then moved ahead with a short burst of points to eventually grab the opening game comfortably.

Takuro and Sayaka changed gears in the second and led 4-1 before entering the break at 11-8.

Pranaav and Sikki reduced the deficit to 13-15 before the Japanese pair walked away with the game and bounced back in the contest.

The decider turned into a roller-coaster ride initially as both the pairs fought tooth and nail till 8-8 when the Japanese duo opened up a 13-9 lead.

The hosts kept their nose ahead despite the Indians breathing down their neck.

In the end, Takuro and Sayaka grabbed the one point needed to seal the issue at 20-19.