Denmark Open: HS Prannoy stuns Lee Chong Wei; Saina, Srikanth also into quarters

Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth, and H. S. Prannoy cruised into quarter-finals at the Denmark Open to face Akane Yamaguchi, Viktor Axelsen, and Son Won Ho respectively today. While, Subhankar Dey along with top shuttlers Sai Praneeth, and PV Sindhu from singles, Manu Atri-Sumeeth Reddy, Satwiksai Raj-Chirag Shetty, Ashwini-Sikki, Pranaav-Sikki, and Ashwini-Satwik from doubles got trounced in the first round.

Pre-quarters:

Prannoy survived the scare, defeating the ace shuttler Lee Chong Wei with the score-line of 21-17, 11-21, 21-19 in 64 minutes. The opener could be anybody’s, as the lead went hand-to-hand till 15-15 followed by 3 consecutive points for the Indian and grabbed the lead to 18-15. Later, Lee secured two points before Prannoy ended the match by 21-17.

After losing in the first game, Lee bounced back with 10-point advantage and stretched the match to the decider with 21-11.

The decider was not easier as the score appears to be. Seventh seeded Lee grabbed the early lead and extended it to 10-9 before Prannoy passes Lee by 1 point advantage with 11-10. With no surprise, Lee caught Prannoy at 13-13 and later the Indian secured 5 straight points at 18-13 and stunned Lee Chong Wei to storm into quarters with 21-19.

After Prannoy’s epic battle against Lee Chong Wei, the spectators had witnessed Saina Nehwal’s encounter with Thailand’s top player Nitchaon Jindapol. In the opener, the game stuffed with twists, turns, and an intense close fights till the opponents reach the game point opportunity. Losing the grit at 20-20, Jindapol surrendered the game to Saina with 22-20. After switching the sides, scoring the big of eight straight points, Saina seized the match with 21-13.

With the progress of Prannoy and Saina into quarters, Srikanth Kidambi seemed assertive and undertook the longest combat of 111 minutes without distress. The Indian defeated Jeon Hyeok Jin of Korea with 21-13, 8-21, 21-18 and marched to quarters. With the easy win in the first game, Srikanth’s sluggish moves allowed Jin to end the second game with 21-8. The decider started well for Srikanth with 10 consecutive points and took the lead 11-4 by interval. With Srikanth’s upper hand in the game, Jin came from nowhere to trail by 19-18 and lost to the Indian with 21-18.