P V Sindhu and veteran Anand Pawar are anticipated to propel India to the semi-finals of the women's and men's singles event respectively in India Open.
Unfortunately, B Sai Praneeth, H S Prannoy, RMV Gurusaidutt lost their respective quarterfinal matches to collapse out of the men's singles event.
The 17-year-old P V Sindhu has already defeated former World No.1 Shixian Wang of China at the Badminton Asia Championships in Taipei last week. She continued with her winning spree and successfully defeated Japan's Yui Hashimoto 21-16 21-16 in 47 minutes. Hashimoto defeated Saina Nehwal on Thursday. Sindhu seeded eighth, started off with a bang, instantly opening up a 11-4 lead and with no loss of time she extended it to 19-7. But just when things appeared to be in total control of the Indian, Hashimoto improved her game during the women's quarter-final. She won nine points mainly taking advantage of unforced errors from Sindhu, to decrease the difference to 16-19. Sindhu who was leading the game by 10 points, displayed a lot of patience and hauled the next two points to finish off the first game at 21-16. The second game was a head on collision with none of the shuttlers sparing an inch. The difference never exceeded more than three points between them that reached 14-14. Sindhu grabbed another three points to march ahead to 17-14. The Japanese despite of scoring a couple of more points, it was Sindhu who ultimately survived over her rival. The second game included a lot of long rallies, which mostly Sindhu won with her commanding smashes.
Sindhu revealed at the post match session that her rival made mistakes and that brought all the difference. Sindhu will now clash with World No. 6 Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand, who had previously defeated India's Arundhati Pantawane in one of the quarter-finals. Pantawane clashed with third seeded Intanon by 21-14 7-21 16-21 in 52 minutes.
In the men's singles quarter-final, Pawar won against compatriot Ajay Jayaram by 21-6, 21-16 in half an hour and ultimately advanced into the last four stage. During the last-eight clash, Pawar dominated the proceedings by striking as many as 21 smashes compared to only eight by Jayaram. It was an easy victory for Pawar in the first game. However, he was moderately challenged by Jayaram in the second. At the end, Pawar won the match comfortably. He will encounter with sixth seeded Japanese Kenichi Tago, who thrashed Sai Praneeth previously in the day by 21-17 19-21 21-11 taking over an hour.
In the men's quarter finals, World No 1 Lee Chong Wei took 34 minutes to defeat Prannoy by 21-14 21-19. Prannoy stunned former World No 1 Taufik Hidayat yesterday. He commenced well against Chong Wei and the duo drew till 4-4 before the number one player simply improved to 11-4. Prannoy fought back and it was again an even contention for a moment but Chong Wei had by that time advanced to 19-9. Unable to give up so easily, the Indian won five consecutive points to get closer to Chong Wei with score reading 14-19. However Chong Wei advanced with two points that Prannoy had no answer to and he wound up the game one by 21-14. In the second game, the Indian displayed his spirit by scoring 12-9 lead. Further he capitalised on Chong Wei's returns finding the net three as the gap widened to 17-11. Chong Wei made an impressive comeback scoring 12-18. The Malaysian hauled four straight points to make it 16-18 before Prannoy once again claimed a point to move to 19-16. It is known that three unforced errors from the young Indian assisted the seasoned shuttler level to score 19-19. It was just a matter of two strokes and Chong Wei finished up as a winner.
Prannoy lamented that while he was happy to have played against him but sad that he has lost. He could have played another game with him. He could have won two-three more points in the second game. So he is a bit disappointed. He further admitted of being nervous at the beginning of the match. He regretted that he should have played more to the centre of the court when he was leading by 18-13. But the manner he played from being 13-18 down is how experienced players play. That is how one can return at any time. That kind of confidence Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan possesses.
Chong Wei admired Prannoy for playing the game in an attacking mode.
In another match, Sai Praneeth lost his match against sixth seeded Kenichi Tago ofJapanby 21-17 19-21 21-11 within 62 minutes. Gurusaidutt also lost after a tough battle against seventh seeded Boonsak Ponsana by 21-12 11-21 21-12 in 58 minutes.
