New Delhi, August 19, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s M.R. Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan rued costly errors and their failure to convert a closely contested opening game as their men’s doubles campaign at the BWF World Championships 2026 ended with a straight-game defeat to South Korea’s M.H. Kang and D. Ki in the Round of 32 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Wednesday.
The Indian duo, who advanced to the last 32 after their first-round opponents Scott Guildea and Paul Reynolds of Ireland retired because of injury, went down 17-21, 14-21 to the Korean pair.
Amsakarunan said the Indians were in contention until the first game reached the crucial stages, when a series of unforced errors allowed their opponents to gain control.
“We were playing good. That Korean defence was like, we knew before the match only; it’s not an easy match. We have to get points of 10 to 12, 15 rallies minimum. That was good. Our game was close, like very close, neck and neck, 15-all. After that, simple errors on our side,” he said.
He added that the slower conditions in the second game made it difficult for the Indians to finish their attacking shots.
“The second set was, you know, that one, like a slower set; we went to a slower set. That smashes and all, can’t finish. So, it’s okay; it’s a good game. Looking forward to next tournament,” Amsakarunan said.
Arjun said the pace of the match was not the decisive factor and maintained that the pair had executed its strategy effectively in the opening game but failed to finish the job.
“No, it was definitely not the pace, because in the first game we were scoring points with pace, I believe. I mean, our tactics were to start from the faster side, get those attacking smashes and, with the pace, make them move side to side,” he said.
Arjun explained that the Koreans are traditionally strong defensively but can be vulnerable to sustained side-to-side movement.
“Our tactics were that. We executed it well in the first, but couldn’t close out the first. That cost us the match,” he added.
The Indians were level at 15-15 in the opening game before conceding a series of points. Arjun said the errors at that stage, rather than their service, proved costly.
“I think in the first game, from 15-all, we wouldn’t have made those errors that cost us the match. It was an either-side match if we had won the first set,” he said, adding that the slower shuttle made playing from that side particularly difficult.
The second game proved more challenging for the Indian pair as the slower conditions reduced the effectiveness of their attacking play and allowed the Koreans to put greater pressure on their defence.
Addressing the Korean pair’s ability to unleash smashes from around knee height, Arjun said it was primarily a consequence of the depth of the Indian lifts rather than a specific tactical change by their opponents.
“Probably our lifts were not going that high or behind. That’s why they got the smashes. I mean, the depth was pretty much coming down to our knees,” he said.
The defeat ended Arjun and Amsakarunan’s campaign at the home World Championships after they were unable to build on their first-round progression.
FOLLOW NOW
