Dutch Open 2018 | Sourabh Verma enters semi-final; Parupalli Kashyap out

10/13/2018

In the Dutch Open 2018, Sourabh Verma has made it into the semi-finals of the event after beating Frenchman Thomas Rouxel to keep India's medal hopes alive. Parupalli Kashyap, however, failed to book a place in the last four of the event as he was ousted by Malaysia's June Wei Cheam.

Sourabh has to battle an ankle injury and some fatigue as he overcame the challenge of Thomas Rouxel in the quarterfinal. After winning the first game by a margin of 21-16, Sourabh then lost the second game 16-21 as Rouxel forced a decider. However, Verma raised his game in the final game winning with a score of 21-17 to make his way into the final four.

The eighth-seeded Kashyap, however, was not able to get past Malaysia's June Wei Cheam in the quarters. After losing a closely fought first game 19-21, the Indian fought back hard to take the second 21-14 to take the match into a decider. But it wasn't meant to be as Cheam completely outplayed him in the final game to walk into final.

India's final chance at some redemption came in the form of the Doubles team of Arjun MR and Ramachandran Shlok. However, the seventh ranked Indian duo was ousted by the German team of Jones Janson and Josche Zurwonnne in straight games of 21-15, 21-14.