Parupalli Kashyap lost to world number 1 Kento Momota of Japan in the semifinal of the Korea Open in Incheon on Saturday, ending India's challenge at the tournament. Kashyap struggled to break Momota's confidence in the first set, but fought hard in the second, stretching the world number 1. However, Momota still won 21-13, 21-15.
Kashyap, ranked world number 30, had fought to keep the tricolour flying at the Korea Open even as the likes of Sai Praneeth, P.V. Sindhu and his wife Saina Nehwal exited in the first round itself. Kashyap and Momota had played each other twice before, with the Japanese player winning both games.
Momota has been on a roll in 2019, registering a series of triumphs, including at the Badminton World Federation world championship last month.
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Momota will play Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan in the final of the Korea Open on Sunday. Chen had defeated Wang Tzu Wei, his compatriot, 12-21, 21-13, 21-11 in the other semifinal, held earlier on Saturday. Chen had won the Korea Open last year.
