Pre-quarter-final report: HS Prannoy recorded his second successive win over three-time Olympic silver medallist Lee Chong Wei, while Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth also registered contrasting wins to advance to the quarterfinals of the Denmark Open Super Series Premier. [caption id=“attachment_4160501” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Saina Nehwal, HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth in action. Agencies[/caption] Just four months back, Prannoy had created a flutter when he dispatched Chong Wei in straight games in the Indonesia Super Series Premier and the unseeded Indian dished out another superb performance yesterday to oust the former World No. 1 Malaysian 21-17 11-21 21-19 in a match that lasted an hour and three minutes here. “I am happy to beat him again today. Even at this age, he is one of the best players, who can play in any conditions. I am not thinking much ahead as I have done this before but couldn’t win the title so I will just look at the next match,” Prannoy told reporters after the match. World No. 8 Srikanth, who already has two super series titles at Indonesia and Australia to his name, defeated Korea’s Jeon Hyeok Jin 21-13 8-21 21-18, while Saina, who won a bronze at the Glasgow World Championship, prevailed over Thailand’s Nitchaon Jindapol 22-20 21-13 in women’s singles pre-quarterfinals. US Open champion Prannoy will next face Korea’s top seed Son Wan Ho, Srikanth will meet current world champion Viktor Axelsen, while Saina will square off against Japans Akane Yamaguchi. Also through to the quarters were England’s Rajiv Ouseph, Hong Kong’s Wong Wing Ki Vincent, Korea’s Lee Hyun Il, Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen. In women’s singles, top seed and world no 1 Tai Tzu Ying, Korean duo of Sung Ji Hyun and Kim Hyo Min, Japan’s Sayaka Sato, China’s Chen Yufei and Thailands Ratchanok Intanon also reached the last eight.
Highlights, Denmark Open SSP, quarter-finals, badminton results: Kidambi Srikanth enters semis; Saina Nehwal ousted
FP Sports
• October 21, 2017, 01:02:57 IST
Catch the live score and updates of the quarter-finals at the Denmark Open Superseries Premier. India’s Saina Nehwal, HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth will be in action
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October 21, 2017, 01:02:57 (IST)
And that’s it from us. A mixed day for the Indian badminton fans as Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy suffered defeat, while Kidambi Srikanth registered a come-from-behind win to stun World No 1 Viktor Axelsen in the quarter-finals.
Hope you enjoyed our coverage. Goodbye!
October 21, 2017, 00:13:59 (IST)
Srikanth defeats Axelsen: 14-21, 22-20, 21-7
It was just unbelievable how Axelsen, the world champion squandered a two-point lead at 19-17 in the second game (after winning the opening game 21-14) and let Srikanth come back to snatch it. Credit goes to Srikanth for turning the game around from there. He targeted the sidelines often and forced Axelsen to hit the shuttle wide. This win is nothing but a statement from the Indian.
October 21, 2017, 00:00:27 (IST)
17-4! Axelsen is prone to make a number of errors by hitting shots wide. Srikanth has been playing some exquisite attacking strokes.
October 20, 2017, 23:56:53 (IST)
October 20, 2017, 23:56:37 (IST)
9-4! Srikanth is on a roll. Axelsen doesn’t have the defence to stop the Indian at the moment.
October 20, 2017, 23:54:24 (IST)
6-3! That’s three points on the trot for Srikanth. A powerful flat smash unsettles Axelsen on his right tramline and that is one of the areas where the Indian will look to attack.
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October 20, 2017, 23:53:14 (IST)
3-3! The deciding game gets underway and it’s the same old story again. The two won’t give up easily.
October 20, 2017, 23:51:02 (IST)
Kidambi Srikanth takes the second game: 22-20
Axelsen squanders a two-point lead at 19-17 to end up on the losing side against Srikanth in the second game. The Indian took Axelsen by surprise and managed to snatch the lead and the game.
Axelsen squanders a two-point lead at 19-17 to end up on the losing side against Srikanth in the second game. The Indian took Axelsen by surprise and managed to snatch the lead and the game.
October 20, 2017, 23:47:56 (IST)
October 20, 2017, 23:46:04 (IST)
19-19! This game is going down the wire. Srikanth wins two consecutive points to draw level. Who will take the game from here?
October 20, 2017, 23:43:51 (IST)
18-16! Srikanth squanders yet another chance to kill the shot and ends up hitting wide. Axelsen now has a two-point lead as we approach the end of the second game.
October 20, 2017, 23:42:02 (IST)
15-15! Both players are struggling to find that extra edge in the second game. There is nothing to separate the two. Srikanth must use his variety of attacking strokes.
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October 20, 2017, 23:38:56 (IST)
13-13! Neck-and-neck in the second game. Both Srikanth and Axelsen have played an attacking game so far, avoiding errors at the net.
October 20, 2017, 23:36:49 (IST)
October 20, 2017, 23:32:40 (IST)
8-6! Srikanth has managed to keep a two-point lead. He is looking for spaces on the tramlines to finish the shot quickly.
October 20, 2017, 23:30:24 (IST)
5-3! Srikanth has used the drift to his advantage in the early stages of the second game. He has a two-point lead over the Dane but needs to show his attacking prowess.
October 20, 2017, 23:28:16 (IST)
October 20, 2017, 23:23:35 (IST)
18-13! Some accurate net shots to regain the momentum in the opening game. Axelsen is not going to allow Srikanth take the lead.
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October 20, 2017, 23:21:07 (IST)
12-14! From being 6-14 down, Srikanth wins six points on the trot to claw back into the opening game. He still trails by a couple of points. Axelsen just switched off there and gave away points.
October 20, 2017, 23:19:52 (IST)
Son Wan Ho beats HS Prannoy: 21-13, 21-18
Clinical. The Korean played some excellent defensive strokes to trouble the high-flying Indian shuttler. Son enters yet another semi-final of a Superseries event.
October 20, 2017, 23:17:21 (IST)
October 20, 2017, 23:12:40 (IST)
In the other men’s singles fixture,
Prannoy and Son are locked at 18-18 in the second game. The Korean won the first game.
October 20, 2017, 23:11:44 (IST)
8-3! Axelsen has one of the smoothest attacking strokes in the men’s singles circuit right now. The way he attacks is a treat to watch for the neutrals.
October 20, 2017, 23:10:01 (IST)
5-1! Srikanth gifts two back-to-back points to Axelsen. That, in return, will give the Danish a lot of confidence to attack.
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October 20, 2017, 23:08:10 (IST)
2-0! A good start for Axelsen, who is enjoying the massive crowd behind him. The reigning world champion has almost all the shots in his armour to unsettle his opponent.
October 20, 2017, 23:06:02 (IST)
13-12! Son Wan Ho makes a comeback to take the lead over Prannoy on the adjacent court. The Srikanth vs Axelsen clash is about to begin.
October 20, 2017, 23:04:39 (IST)
October 20, 2017, 23:02:04 (IST)
October 20, 2017, 22:59:57 (IST)
10-7! The Indian extends the lead to three points as we approach the break of the second game. Elsewhere, Kidambi Srikanth has entered the court to face Viktor Axelsen
October 20, 2017, 22:57:10 (IST)
6-5! Prannoy has a slender one-point lead over the former World No 1 in the second game. It would be interesting to see how the game pans out after the mid-game interval.
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October 20, 2017, 22:54:07 (IST)
3-3! Yet again, the two are eager to take an early lead. Prannoy must finish the shot before Son tries to convert it into a rally.
October 20, 2017, 22:51:39 (IST)
Son takes first game: 21-13
Despite a bright start, Prannoy succumbed to the pressure and let the Korean run away with the lead after the break. Son has a variety of shots to unsettle an attacking opponent. He has done it against Kidambi Srikanth and looks set to play with the same strategy against Prannoy,
October 20, 2017, 22:47:35 (IST)
19-11! That’s a healthy eight-point lead for Son as we approach the end of the first game. Will Prannoy claw back to register a memorable first-game win?
October 20, 2017, 22:46:32 (IST)
16-11! The game is played at a very fast pace. Both Son and Prannoy have exchanged shots quite quickly at the net. However, the Korean has the edge with powerful net shots.
October 20, 2017, 22:44:08 (IST)
15-9! Son has looked in sublime touch since the start of the opening game. It is all about maintaining the dominance over an attacking player like Prannoy.
October 20, 2017, 22:40:05 (IST)
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October 20, 2017, 22:38:47 (IST)
8-5! Three straight points for Son and he has pushed Prannoy towards the backcourt in the first 10 minutes of the match.
October 20, 2017, 22:38:02 (IST)
4-4! Both the shuttlers have started well in the early stages of the opening game. The clash is just about Prannoy’s attack and Son’s defence.
October 20, 2017, 22:35:10 (IST)
4-4! Both the shuttlers have started well in the early stages of the opening game. The clash is just about Prannoy’s attack and Son’s defence.
October 20, 2017, 22:33:05 (IST)
Another classic match is upon us as HS Prannoy takes on World No 2 Son Wan Ho of Korea. The Indian shuttler entered the quarter-finals with a brilliant win over Lee Chong Wei, which says a lot about his attacking style of play. Meanwhile, Son has been rampant this season, winning bronze in the recently-concluded World Badminton Championships in Glasgow.
End of Liveblog