India Open 2019 final Match Highlights Score and updates: Viktor Axelsen saves two gamepoints against Kidambi Srikanth to clinch title

Catch Live score and updates of 2019 India Open finals featuring men's singles clash between India's Kidambi Srikanth and Denmark's Viktor Axelsen

FP Sports March 31, 2019 13:07:11 IST
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India Open 2019 final Match Highlights Score and updates: Viktor Axelsen saves two gamepoints against Kidambi Srikanth to clinch title
  • Danish ace Viktor Axelsen overcame Indian veteran Parupalli Kashyap in straight games on Saturday to set up a title clash with home favorite Kidambi Srikanth in India Open badminton

  • Axelsen, who is top seed by default after the last-minute pullout of defending champion Shi Yuqi of China, was stretched in the second game by Kashyap but won the match in 43 minutes

  • Srikanth, a former world number one who witnessed a title drought after winning four SuperSeries events in 2017, dug deep to edge out Huang, who is ranked 30

LIVE NEWS and UPDATES

Mar 31, 2019 - 16:55 (IST)

Axelsen is India Open champion for the second time

That's it! An Axelsen smash floors Srikanth as the diving Indian fails to return. It was a valiant comeback from the Indian, but the errors didn't do him any good. Axelsen wins 21-7, 22-20.

Mar 31, 2019 - 16:51 (IST)

A courageous effort from the Dane. 

Mar 31, 2019 - 16:45 (IST)

16-16! 

Change of pace from Srikanth does the trick again. The second game looks completely different, of course. Long rallies have made it difficult to hit winners down the line. Hence, Axelsen has been covering the net very often. 

Mar 31, 2019 - 16:43 (IST)

Make that 15-15! 

Mar 31, 2019 - 16:38 (IST)

Srikanth 8-10

He is trying his best to find that winner to get going against Axelsen. The game still remains tight. 

Mar 31, 2019 - 16:34 (IST)

Srikanth trails 5-7

The Indian finally gets a grip on the rallies and wins a few points at the net to close the gap. Just two points to separate the two shuttlers who dominated the 2017 season with their attacking style of play. 

Mar 31, 2019 - 16:32 (IST)

Axelsen leads 5-1

The former World No 1 has smartly employed a pure attacking game to push Srikanth towards the backcourt. His range and height are enough to cause damage. 

Mar 31, 2019 - 16:28 (IST)

Axelsen wins first game: 21-7

Whoa, what was that?? Axelsen put up an exhibition of attacking play, pocketing all 10 points from 11-7 to take the first game in 12 minutes. Sheer class, absolute domination. Not looking good for the Indian.

Mar 31, 2019 - 16:26 (IST)

10 straight points for Axelsen! 

The big Dane is just toying around at the moment. He has been on a roll after the mid-game break. Srikanth's judgement and strokes have been terrible, considering how he started. 

Mar 31, 2019 - 16:23 (IST)

Early lead for Axelsen

Axelsen has been on the offence from the start, and has landed his smashes regularly. Srikanth has been unable to push the Dane back for longer periods, and a 14-7 lead is a handy one in the context of the match.

Semi-final report: Danish ace Viktor Axelsen overcame Indian veteran Parupalli Kashyap in straight games on Saturday to set up a title clash with home favorite Kidambi Srikanth in India Open badminton.

World number four Axelsen served past the 32-year-old Kashyap 21-11, 21-17 in the men's semifinal of the BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament in New Delhi.

India Open 2019 final Match Highlights Score and updates Viktor Axelsen saves two gamepoints against Kidambi Srikanth to clinch title

File image of Kidambi Srikanth. Reuters

Axelsen, who is top seed by default after the last-minute pullout of defending champion Shi Yuqi of China, was stretched in the second game by Kashyap but won the match in 43 minutes.

"I think I didn't control the drift at the start of the second game that well, however, I started to control it better and make some right decisions," said Axelsen.

"It's going to be really nice playing Srikanth in India, so I am looking forward to it. I am really pleased to be in the finals," he added.

Earlier Srikanth, 26, managed a come-from-behind victory against China's Huang Yuxiang 16-21, 21-14, 21-19 in a thrilling match that lasted for just over an hour.

Srikanth, a former world number one who witnessed a title drought after winning four SuperSeries events in 2017, dug deep to edge out Huang, who is ranked 30.

Srikanth, who is placed seventh in world badminton rankings, said he was "happy to be playing the final again" after a long time.

In the women's singles, China's He Bingjiao edged past Indian star PV Sindhu 23-21, 21-18 to book her Sunday final with Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in the $350,000 event.

Olympic silver medallist Sindhu blew four game points in the opener to lose the initiative against Bingjiao, who is seeded third and took down last year's winner Zhang Beiwen of the United States in the quarter-finals.

"I think I need to be more patient, I should have taken the first game, it was crucial for me but after losing it, I became a bit nervous," said Sindhu.

"I made crucial mistakes in the second game."

Fourth seeded Intanon fought hard to get past Han Yue of China 21-15, 19-21, 21-18.

With inputs from AFP

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