Indonesia Open 2017 | HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth enter quarterfinals; Saina, Sindhu crash out
Indian shuttlers HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth have brushed aside their opponents to enter the quarter-finals of the Indonesia Super Series Premier. On the other hand, in the women’s singles, Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu lost their pre-quarter final game to bow out of the tournament.
The World No 25 Prannoy, who went into the match with a 0-2 head-to-head record over World no. 1 Lee Chong Wei, started the match on a good note and opened up an 11-6 lead. While the top-seed Lee was supposed to claw his way back, Prannoy tied him up and didn’t give any chance and closed the game at 21-10 within 14 minutes of the match.
Lee, though, looked a bit more comfortable in the second game and tried to put some pressure on the Indian. After locking the game at 12-12 near the halfway mark, the duo exchanged some brilliant rallies, including a 27-shot one, but the Indian eventually managed to take the game 21-18 to seal a spot in the last eight.
"Lee looked ordinary today and I took my chances. I am very happy to have won," Prannoy told PTI after the victory.
Earlier in the day, 14th-ranked Kidambi Srikanth scampered home against the World No 9 Jan Jorgensen 21-15, 20-22, 21-6 to enter the last-eight as well. But unlike Prannoy, it was a difficult win for Srikanth as Jorgensen fought back to take the second game 22-10 after losing the first game 21-10. In the deciding game, the Indian held his nerve and took the game 21-16 to enter the quarters.
With the win, Srikanth will now lock horns with the world No 19 Tzu Wei Wang of Chinese Taipei in the quarter-finals. The 22-year-old has already beaten the legendary Lin Dan and world No 6 NG Ka Long Angus in the last two days on his way to the last eight.
On the other hand, in the women's singles, the former world No 1 Saina Nehwal crashed out of the tournament after losing to Thailand's Jindapol Nitchaon 15-21, 21-6, 16-21. Nehwal lost the first game but fought back to secure the second by a huge margin, but lost the decider to end her campaign at the tournament.
Rio Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu also crashed out of the tournament after losing the second round to Zhang Beiwen of USA 21-15, 12-21, 18-21 in the women’s singles.
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