Letshanaa stuns former world champ Okuhara in US Open first round
PETALING JAYA: Women's singles shuttler K Letshanaa pulled off the biggest upset of her career, stunning former world champion Nozomi Okuhara in the first round of the US Open on Wednesday (June 25).
It was the first-ever meeting between the two players, with eighth seed Okuhara enjoying a psychological edge thanks to her higher world ranking of No. 27, compared to Letshanaa's 42nd spot.
That did not faze Letshanaa, who needed just 31 minutes to seal her spot in the second round with a commanding 21-8, 21-19 win at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
She will next face India's Aakarshi Kashyap in the second round.
Also putting up a fine showing was compatriot Wong Ling Ching, who ousted fourth seed Hsu Wen-chi of Taiwan 21-17, 19-21, 22-20 in a hard-fought battle.
Ling Ching will meet Bulgaria's Kaloyana Nalbantova in the next round.
Meanwhile, Malaysia's sole representative in the men's singles, Justin Hoh, had little trouble overcoming Belgium's Julien Carragi 21-10, 21-10 and will take on Taiwan's Liao Jhuo-fu in the second round.
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The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Letshanaa won't get carried away after stunner over ex-world champ Okuhara
PETALING JAYA: It is always satisfying to defeat a more established opponent, especially one who is a former world champion. But women's singles shuttler K. Letshanaa (pic) is not getting carried away with her first-round triumph over 2017 world champion Nozomi Okuhara at the US Open on Wednesday. Instead, she knows that consistency is what truly matters. Letshanaa needed just 31 minutes to send the Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist packing with an emphatic 21-8, 21-19 win. Her teammate Wong Ling Ching also delivered a fine performance by edging fourth seed Hsu Wen-chi of Taiwan 21-17, 19-21, 22-20 in a hard-fought three-game battle. Former men's singles player Roslin Hashim believes the victories are a timely morale boost for Malaysia's women's singles camp, which has long been seen as one of the weaker departments in the national squad. Roslin hopes the wins will give Letshanaa and Ling Ching the belief they need to climb the world rankings steadily. 'This is a very encouraging sign for the women's singles squad,' said Roslin. 'Even if Okuhara was not at her best, the fact remains that Letshanaa managed to defeat a former world champion. 'That is a positive result and it shows that our women's singles players still have potential. 'But they must not become complacent. Too often, we see our players beat a big name only to fall at the next hurdle. What is important now is for them to stay consistent.' Letshanaa will now aim to prove that her win over Okuhara was no fluke when she takes on India's Aakarshi Kashyap in the second round. It will be their first meeting, and their world rankings are close, with Aakarshi placed just one spot above Letshanaa at No. 50. Ling Ching will face Bulgaria's Kaloyana Nalbantova, who is ranked No. 75 in the world. Malaysia also have representation in the men's singles through Justin Hoh, who will take on Taiwan's Liao Jhuo-fu in the second round. Justin had earlier cruised past Belgium's Julien Carragi 21-10, 21-10 in just 27 minutes.
New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Rashid urges Letshanaa to build on Okuhara win
KUALA LUMPUR: Badminton legend Datuk Rashid Sidek believes K. Letshanaa has the potential to go far in women's singles if she continues to beat top-ranked players consistently. World No. 50 Letshanaa pulled off a major upset by beating former world champion Nozomi Okuhara in the first round of the US Open in Iowa on Wednesday. The Malaysian stunned the world No. 42 Japanese shuttler 21-8, 21-19 to book her spot in the second round. Okuhara was the 2017 world champion, former world No. 1, and a bronze medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics. "It's a good win for Letshanaa. I hope she gains confidence from this and continues to develop her game," said Rashid, a member of Malaysia's 1992 Thomas Cup-winning team, after a recording session of Timesport: On the Beat at Balai Berita on Wednesday. "She's not getting any younger, so she must start proving herself on the World Tour. "It's not every day that a shuttler beats a former or current world champion and Olympic medallist. "My advice to Letshanaa is simple — keep fighting and winning on tour to reach the next level. "She's been part of the national team for a few years now, and it's not enough to just compete. She needs to show real progress and start winning titles. "She can't keep saying she's young — the commitment and consistency must be there. This win is a good platform, and she must build on it." Letshanaa will next face world No. 49 Aakarshi Kashyap of India in the second round on Thursday. The full podcast episode featuring Rashid Sidek will be available next week on YouTube, Spotify, Audioplus, and Apple Podcasts.
The Star
13 hours ago
- The Star
Letshanaa won't carried away after stunner over former world champion Okuhara
Letshanaa reacts during the National Junior Finals in Seremban. PETALING JAYA: It is always satisfying to defeat a more established opponent, especially one who is a former world champion. But women's singles shuttler K. Letshanaa is not getting carried away with her first-round triumph over 2017 world champion Nozomi Okuhara at the US Open on Wednesday. Instead, she knows that consistency is what truly matters. Letshanaa needed just 31 minutes to send the Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist packing with an emphatic 21-8, 21-19 win. Her teammate Wong Ling Ching also delivered a fine performance by edging fourth seed Hsu Wen-chi of Taiwan 21-17, 19-21, 22-20 in a hard-fought three-game battle. Former men's singles player Roslin Hashim believes the victories are a timely morale boost for Malaysia's women's singles camp, which has long been seen as one of the weaker departments in the national squad. Roslin hopes the wins will give Letshanaa and Ling Ching the belief they need to climb the world rankings steadily. 'This is a very encouraging sign for the women's singles squad,' said Roslin. 'Even if Okuhara was not at her best, the fact remains that Letshanaa managed to defeat a former world champion. That is a positive result and it shows that our women's singles players still have potential. 'But they must not become complacent. Too often, we see our players beat a big name only to fall at the next hurdle. What is important now is for them to stay consistent.' Letshanaa will now aim to prove that her win over Okuhara was no fluke when she takes on India's Aakarshi Kashyap in the second round. It will be their first meeting, and their world rankings are close, with Aakarshi placed just one spot above Letshanaa at No. 50. Ling Ching will face Bulgaria's Kaloyana Nalbantova, who is ranked No. 75 in the world. Malaysia also have representation in the men's singles through Justin Hoh, who will take on Taiwan's Liao Jhuo-fu in the second round. Justin had earlier cruised past Belgium's Julien Carragi 21-10, 21-10 in just 27 minutes.
