New Delhi: While Lakshya Sen took India’s campaign ahead at the Japan Masters on Thursday, it was curtains for another India shuttler HS Prannoy in the men’s singles competition. Prannoy, who had given India some hope by qualifying for the second round, went down 18-21, 15-21 against Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke in a 46-minute Round 2 encounter.

Meanwhile, Sen progressed to the quarterfinals with a straight game win over Singapore’s Jia Heng Jason Teh. A 2021 World Championship bronze winner, Sen, seeded seventh here, prevailed over world No. 20 Teh 21-13 21-11 in another 39-minute contest.

The world No.15 Sen will clash with former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in the quarterfinals. Lakshya opened up an 8-5 lead early in the opening game. Teh managed to briefly take a slender 10-9

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