Indian challenge ends as shuttler Ajay Jayaram bows out of Korea Open

India’s campaign ended at the Korea Open after Ajay Jayaram went down fighting against World No. 20 Korean Lee Hyun II in the men’s singles quarterfinals of the Super Series badminton event in Seoul on Friday.

Jayaram, who came into the match with a 0-2 head-to-head record against the Korean, lost 23-25 13-21 in a 44-minute battle to bow out of the contest at the Seong-nam Indoor Stadium here.

Jayaram, ranked 27th in the world, was 14-11 ahead at one stage but Lee caught up with a seven-point burst to turn the tables on the Indian. Lee reached the game points at 20-17 but Jayaram saved three game points and was in fact 23-22 up, but he could not finish it as the local shuttler held the bragging rights.

In the second game, Jayaram could not play his usual game as the Korean broke off at 4-4 and slowly moved ahead, even as the Indian crumbled.

Jayaram had lost to Lee at the Canada Open earlier this year.