 India’s Asian Games 2022 gold medallists Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy alongside bronze medallist HS Prannoy recorded contrasting victories and moved into the semi-finals of the India Open 2024, organized by the Badminton Association of India, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here on Friday.While Chirag-Satwik registered a dominating 21-7, 21-10 victory against Kim Astrup and Anders Rasmussen of Denmark, Prannoy had to fight hard to secure his maiden semi-final berth of the tournament by defeating Wang Tzu Wei of Chinese Taipei in a 21-11, 17-21, 21-18 win.Going all-out attack, Chirag-Satwik began the opening game with a statement of intent by amassing a quick 11-3 lead. The former champions maintained that momentum against the fifth seed to claim the first game in a mere 16-minute span.Prior to this match, the Danish duo had notched two consecutive victories against Chirag-Satwik. However, the World No.2 put an end to that run by scoring eight consecutive points in the second game to seal the victory and set up a highly anticipated clash with former World Champions Soh Wooi Yik and Aaron Chia of Malaysia.Commenting on how they managed to secure the victory, Chirag Shetty shared, “Against them (Kim and Anders), it is not always a game where you are challenged skillfully but it is also mentally. Whoever wins the mental battle comes out on top and today we did that quite well. We usually don’t play such mind games, but today we made sure that we only receive and not play at their rhythm. The way we started off was in a convincing fashion and we kept it through the very end. We are really happy with the way we played and we want to keep the momentum for tomorrow as well and give 100%.”Similar to his compatriots, the World Championships 2023 bronze medallist Prannoy made a strong start against his Taiwanese opponent by winning a 26 point rally and set the tone for the game by establishing a 13-4 lead in the first game. Despite a brief resurgence from Wang, the eighth seed closed out the game quite effortlessly.The second game saw a rejuvenated Wang taking a lead of 13-6, and though Prannoy tried to narrow the gap, the 28-year-old held on to force a tie-breaker.There was not much that separated the two players in an intense third game. With the score tied at 16-16, Prannoy seized a two-point lead and ultimately claimed victory in an hour and 17 minutes to hand Wang his fourth quarterfinal exit at the tournament.“I think it is always tough to play against somebody like Wang Tzu Wei, who is exceptionally good along the net and attack. It was important for me to get that first game because he is somebody who gets going right from the start. The second game didn’t go really well but I am really proud of what I could do in the third game to fight back. Shi Yu Qi has been playing really well in the last six months and he looks pretty solid out there. So it is going to be tough physically and the major thing is to get the body ready for tomorrow,” said HS Prannoy after his victory.The World No.9 will face sixth-seeded Shi Yu Qui of China in the final four.Earlier in the day, Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu continued his stunning run in the tournament as he triumphed over Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Anthony Ginting of Indonesia with in a thrilling 21-17, 18-21, 21-13 victory.The 27-year-old continued to build on his advantage and ultimately sealed the victory to set up a semi-final tie against second seed Kodai Naraoka of Japan.In women’s singles, second seed An-Se Young’s title defence came to an unfortunate end as she had to retire due to injury, handing Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min her first semi-finals berth at the India Open.Jia Min will face Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei, who prevailed against two-time World Championships bronze medallist He Bing Jiao of China with a comfortable 21-12, 21-12 victory.Elsewhere, former World Champions Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand clinched a 21-17, 15-21, 27-25 victory over defending champions Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino of Japan.–IANShs/){kind=link}
New Delhi, Jan 19 (IANS) India’s Asian Video games 2022 gold medallists Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy alongside bronze medallist HS Prannoy recorded contrasting victories and moved into the semi-finals of the India Open 2024, organized by the Badminton Affiliation of India, on the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium right here on Friday.
Whereas Chirag-Satwik registered a dominating 21-7, 21-10 victory in opposition to Kim Astrup and Anders Rasmussen of Denmark, Prannoy needed to battle onerous to safe his maiden semi-final berth of the event by defeating Wang Tzu Wei of Chinese language Taipei in a 21-11, 17-21, 21-18 win.
Going all-out assault, Chirag-Satwik started the opening recreation with an announcement of intent by amassing a fast 11-3 lead. The previous champions maintained that momentum in opposition to the fifth seed to say the primary recreation in a mere 16-minute span.
Previous to this match, the Danish duo had notched two consecutive victories in opposition to Chirag-Satwik. Nevertheless, the World No.2 put an finish to that run by scoring eight consecutive factors within the second recreation to seal the victory and arrange a extremely anticipated conflict with former World Champions Soh Wooi Yik and Aaron Chia of Malaysia.
Commenting on how they managed to safe the victory, Chirag Shetty shared, “Towards them (Kim and Anders), it isn’t at all times a recreation the place you might be challenged skillfully however it’s also mentally. Whoever wins the psychological battle comes out on high and at this time we did that fairly effectively. We normally don’t play such thoughts video games, however at this time we made certain that we solely obtain and never play at their rhythm. The way in which we began off was in a convincing trend and we saved it by means of the very finish. We’re actually pleased with the best way we performed and we need to maintain the momentum for tomorrow as effectively and provides 100%.”
Much like his compatriots, the World Championships 2023 bronze medallist Prannoy made a powerful begin in opposition to his Taiwanese opponent by profitable a 26 level rally and set the tone for the sport by establishing a 13-4 lead within the first recreation. Regardless of a short resurgence from Wang, the eighth seed closed out the sport fairly effortlessly.
The second recreation noticed a rejuvenated Wang taking a lead of 13-6, and although Prannoy tried to slender the hole, the 28-year-old held on to power a tie-breaker.
There was not a lot that separated the 2 gamers in an intense third recreation. With the rating tied at 16-16, Prannoy seized a two-point lead and in the end claimed victory in an hour and 17 minutes handy Wang his fourth quarterfinal exit on the event.
“I feel it’s at all times robust to play in opposition to someone like Wang Tzu Wei, who’s exceptionally good alongside the web and assault. It was necessary for me to get that first recreation as a result of he’s someone who will get going proper from the beginning. The second recreation didn’t go very well however I’m actually happy with what I may do within the third recreation to battle again. Shi Yu Qi has been enjoying very well within the final six months and he seems fairly strong on the market. So it’ll be robust bodily and the key factor is to get the physique prepared for tomorrow,” mentioned HS Prannoy after his victory.
The World No.9 will face sixth-seeded Shi Yu Qui of China within the ultimate 4.
Earlier within the day, Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu continued his gorgeous run within the event as he triumphed over Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Anthony Ginting of Indonesia with in an exciting 21-17, 18-21, 21-13 victory.
The 27-year-old continued to construct on his benefit and in the end sealed the victory to arrange a semi-final tie in opposition to second seed Kodai Naraoka of Japan.
In ladies’s singles, second seed An-Se Younger’s title defence got here to an unlucky finish as she needed to retire as a consequence of harm, handing Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min her first semi-finals berth on the India Open.
Jia Min will face Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese language Taipei, who prevailed in opposition to two-time World Championships bronze medallist He Bing Jiao of China with a cushty 21-12, 21-12 victory.
Elsewhere, former World Champions Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand clinched a 21-17, 15-21, 27-25 victory over defending champions Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino of Japan.
–IANS
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