Ouseph beaten in epic by world number four

Feltham’s Rajiv Ouseph pushed world number four Kento Momota all the way in a 57-minute epic but ended up losing in the first round of the India Open.

Ouseph, ranked 18 places below Momota, took the opening game 21-15 and also held a six-point lead early in the decider, before losing 21-15 16-21 15-21.

He was on top throughout the first game against the tournament’s second seed, who had also beaten Ouseph in their only previous meeting at the 2014 All England Open.[phone][/phone]

Momota won the first seven points of the second game on his way to levelling the match, but Ouseph then moved 8-2 in front in the decider.

However, the 21-year-old from Japan pulled it back to 9-9 and maintained his momentum to seal the match.

Ouseph is next in action at next week’s Malaysia Open, against world number 11 Wang Zhengming.