Report: India’s campaign in the women’s singles category of the Japan Open Superseries ended after PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal lost in straight games to local favourite Nozomi Okuhara and Spain’s Carolina Marin, in their respective matches here on Thursday. However, there was good news from the men’s singles with Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy advancing to the quarter-finals. Playing local favourite Okuhara for the third consecutive time in as many tournaments, Sindhu failed to repeat her Korea Open form and committed too many errors to go down 18-21 8-21 in a lop-sided 47-minute contest. Sindhu squandered a lead of 11-9 and 18-16 in the opening game and looked completely out of sorts in the second game to bow out early. On the other hand, playing her first tournament after the bronze medal feat at the World Championships, Saina failed to put up a fight and meekly went down 16-21 13-21 to the reigning Olympic champion. Saina too squandered a bright start, with a slender 11-9 lead in the first game before trailing 10-17 in the second and eventually bowing out meekly. Among the men, World No.8 Srikanth, who clinched back-to-back titles in Indonesia and Australia this year, demolished Hong Kong’s Hu Yun 21-12 21-11 within half an hour to make it to the final eight. The Indian will now face the recently crowned world champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark. US Open Champion Prannoy managed to upstage Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Jen Hao 21-16 23-21. He will now play against second seed Chinese Shi Yuqi. In the mixed doubles category, the pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy played their hearts out before losing 27-29 21-16 12-21 to Indonesian fourth seeds Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto in a match that lasted an hour and six minutes.
Highlights Japan Open Superseries, score and updates: Srikanth Kidambi knocked out by Viktor Axelsen
Catch the live updates from the quarter-finals of the Japan Open Superseries as HS Prannoy faces Shi Yuqi, while Kidambi Srikanth takes on Viktor Axelsen
)
World Championships bronze medallist and 2016 World Junior Championships winner China’s Chen Yufei has booked her place in the semi-final defeating Japan’s Aya Ohari 21-13, 10-21, 21-19 in a gruelling 65-minute encounter.
Yufei will square off against compatriot and fifth seeded He Bingjao for a place in the final.
In the other women’s semi-final, the World Champion Nozomi Okuhara will face Olympic gold medallist Carolina Marin.
In the men’s singles, No 1 seed Son Wan Ho will face Axelsen while the 3-time Japan Open Champion Lee Chong Wei will face Shi Yuqi for a place in the final.
Though Kidambi Srikanth lost to World Champion Viktor Axelsen, there was one reason for Indians to rejoice.
The mixed doubles pair of Sikki Reddy and Pranaav Jerry Chopra have made it to their first Superseries semi-final tomorrow and join Firstpost for all the live updates, scores and results of the penultimate day of the Japan Open Superseries.
That’s it for today and join Firstpost tomorrow for the semi-final action of the Japan Open Superseries tournament.
Thank you.
Viktor Axelsen beats Srikanth Kidambi: 21-17, 21-17
World champion Axelsen gets the better of Srikanth straight games to enter the semi-finals of the men’s singles event in Tokyo. It wasn’t a lop-sided clash but the Dane proved to be a handful for Srikanth with his incredible stroke-play not only at the net but also on the sidelines of the court. The Indian shuttler was stretched near the backcourt at times, which allowed Axelsen to quickly cover the court and play attacking strokes.
16-14! What a crosscourt smash that was from Axelsen!
He is in complete control of his shots from the backcourt. Also, he is finding angles to hit a drop.
Axelsen seals opening game: 21-17
After drawing level at 17-17, the Dane takes four back-to-back points to snatch the first game from Srikanth. The Indian showed great composure and was in control of his shots but Axelsen attacked well to take a 1-0 lead in this quarter-final match.
16-16!
Axelsen levels the scores in no time. A straight body smash to make this contest even more interesting.
Kidambi Srikanth vs Viktor Axelsen: Preview
2017 has been a fantastic year for both Srikanth and Axelsen as the two have been on an upward trajectory and have bagged a couple of top honours. The Danish shuttler won the India Open Superseries in March (defeated Srikanth 21-7, 21-12 in the second round) and the recently-concluded World Championships, while Srikanth won back-to-back titles at the Indonesia Superseries Premier and the Australia Superseries.
This is the Indian’s fourth-straight Superseries semi-final appearance.
It’s all even in the head-to-head meetings, however, Axlesen has won the last two encounters in straight games.
Son Wan Ho beats Lin Dan: 21-15, 21-15
The Korean shuttler outnumbered the three-time Japan Open Superseries champion in three games to book his place in the semi-finals in Tokyo. Son showed a totally different game, although Lin made a lot of errors, to finish the match before the Chinese could even react.
Son Wan Ho wins the opening game: 21-15
After leading for the major part of the first game, Lin Dan succumbs to Son’s wrist wizardry and gave away a few points after the break. The Korean took advantage of the slump and wrapped up the game in no time.
Son Wan Ho wins the opening game: 21-15
After leading for the major part of the first game, Lin Dan succumbs to Son’s wrist wizardry and gave away a few points after the break. The Korean took advantage of the slump and wrapped up the game in no time.