LIVE BWF World Championships | Quarterfinals
Getty
After the first three days of some grueling badminton, India are left with two contenders for the last three rounds of the tournament in PV Sindhu and B Sai Praneeth. However, even that could change with Sindhu taking on Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying today, and Praneeth, Jonathan Christie.
While HS Prannoy losing to World No. 1 Kento Momota was hugely expected, B Sai Praneeth overcoming Anthony Ginting, who is placed 10 ranks above him, wasn’t very likley. However, with Prannoy out now and Kidambi Srikanth going down against Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen, who was five ranks below him, Praneeth remains India’s biggest hope on Friday when he takes on Christie, who is 12 ranks higher than him.
The women’s singles wasn’t also without surprise with Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark showed extreme composure and stamina to overcome Indian veteran Saina Nehwal. After the Indian had a walk in the park in the first game, winning it 21-15, she was stretched to her extreme limit in the second game, where she eventually broke at 25-27. With all her energy sapped in that, it was just a matter of time in the decider.
Hence, India are left with golden girl Sindhu now, who has reached the finals on both the previous occasions in the tournament and would be hoping to do the same this time. However, she has a certain Tai Tzu Ying standing in her way against whom she has won just four times in 14 encounters. Clearly, neither of the Indians are favourites today.Â
