India has an uneven start at the Japan Open Super 750, with three players bowing out in their early matches. Lakshya Sen is eliminated, going down in straight games. Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda also exit in the opening rounds, with both competing hard in their ties. Ayush Shetty comes closest to a major upset, extending second seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn to three games before losing. The results leave India’s remaining campaign led by PV Sindhu and the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto. They are scheduled to play second-round matches on Thursday. Both outlets describe the day as disappointing for India overall, citing the first-round departures of Sen, Shetty and Hooda and the lack of progression beyond the early stage for the players involved.