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.

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.