India
Hyderabad Hunters

Sindhu & Srikanth – Reach Semis of Yonex-Sunrise India Open

By: GoBadminton desk
Date: 30 Mar, 2019
Image Courtesy: Hyderabad Hunters
It wasn’t quite easy, but PV Sindhu & Srikanth Kidambi – both top ranked Indian singles players in the Yonex-Sunrise India open managed to hold their nerve and reach the last four of this prestigious badminton tournament. 

Srikanth Kidambi beat compatriot B Sai Praneeth in a thrilling tie that went the distance and produced some breathtaking badminton from both players. Sai, who recently played the Swiss Open Final, made a confident start as he raced off to a 5-1 lead in the opening exchanges. But Srikanth wasn’t going to be pinned down for too long, as he made a steady come back in the game to tie the game at 14-apiece.

Sai managed to open up yet another lead 3-point lead, but Srikanth was just relent in his pursuit as he closed down to a 21-all situation. Sai Praneeth, though, was determined to take the game and he eventually did so 23-21. Kidambi Srikanth, however, was to make a stunning comeback in the second and Sai just managed 11 points while Srikanth ran away with the game.

All squared and all to play for in the third game and once again it was a photo-finish. Both players locked in an almighty battle that saw Srikanth eventually pip Sai Praneeth 23-21 11-21 19-21 and book a semi-final clash against Huang Yuxiang.

Veteran Indian shuttler Parupalli Kashyap will play the second of the semi-finals against second seeded Victor Axelsen after both managed to win their respective semi-finals in straight games and without much fuss.

PV Sindhu continued her impressive run in the Indian Open with a 21-19 22-20 win over Danish player Mia Blichfeldt. Both players stayed neck and neck all through the contest, with PV Sindhu managing to edge ahead at the crucial moments. Sindhu will now face her biggest challenge in the tournament so far – third seed He Bingjao of China. 

Fourth seeded Ratchanok Intanon and seventh seed Han Yue will square off in the other semi-finals.

In the men’s doubles – sixth seeded Manu Attri/B Sumeeth Reddy remain the lone Indian team after they registered an impressive 21-10 21-12 win in the quarter-finals against compatriots Pranaav Jerry Chopra/Shivam Sharma. 

The women’s doubles & mixed-doubles events, meanwhile, will have no representation from the home nation after Ashwini Ponnappa/Sikki Reddy lost to top seeds Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu and Aparna Balan/Sruthi KP also lost in a hard-fought quarterfinal clash.

Share this post with your friends

Visitors Guru
Most Viewed
Stay Connected

Google +

Follow Us

Instagram

Follow Us