India’s PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth progressed to the quarter-finals but Saina Nehwal fell in the second round of the Malaysia Open badminton championships on Thursday. [caption id=“attachment_4150563” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth. Getty[/caption] Third seed Sindhu defeated Malaysian Ying Ying Lee 21-8, 21-14 in 32 minutes to set-up a quarter-final against 2016 Olympic champion Carolina Marin, who got past Cheung Ngan Yi 24-22, 21-11. However, Sindhu’s senior compatriot Saina lost to Japanese second seed Akane Yamaguchi 15-21, 13-21 in 36 minutes. Yamaguchi has now taken a 6-1 lead in head-to-head records against the two-time World Championships medallist Saina, who on Thursday suffered the sixth straight loss against the Japanese. In the first game, Yamaguchi had taken a 9-2 lead but Saina closed down the deficit to one as the Indian reached the 10-point mark. However, Yamaguchi outplayed the Indian to take a 21-15 win. She continued to dominate Saina in the second game, taking an 11-3 lead in the mid-game interval. Though Saina improved her game, Yamaguchi ran away with a 21-13 easy triumph. Chinese Taipei top seed Tai Tzu Ying and Thai eighth seed Ratchanok Intanon also made it to the last eight stage. In the men’s singles, Kidambi Srikanth beat Chinese Taipei’s Wang Tzu Wei 22-20, 21-12 in 32 minutes. On Friday, Srikanth will meet Frenchman Brice Leverdez, who defeated Indonesian Jonatan Christie 10-21, 21-17, 25-23. Chinese third seed Shi Yuqi defeated veteran compatriot Lin Dan 21-19, 21-12. Home favourite Lee Chong Wei will face Danish top seed Viktor Axelsen on Friday for a place in the semi-finals. With inputs from Agencies
Malaysia Open 2018, Highlights, badminton results: Kidambi Srikanth, PV Sindhu enter semis; Lee Chong Wei beats Axelsen
Catch the live score and updates of the quarter-final matches at the Malaysia Open as India’s Kidambi Srikanth and PV Sindhu eye semi-final spots
 "Malaysia Open 2018, Highlights, badminton results: Kidambi Srikanth, PV Sindhu enter semis; Lee Chong Wei beats Axelsen")
That’s it from us! We’ll see you tomorrow as Kidambi Srikanth takes on Kento Momota and PV Sindhu faces the Tai Tzu Ying test again!
Hope you enjoyed our coverage. See you soon!
Lee Chong Wei enters semi-finals
The Malaysian ace shuttler defeated world champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark 21-17, 21-9 in 45 minutes to set up a semi-final clash with Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto. The second game was absolute carnage! Expect the unexpected from Lee Chong Wei.
17-7! LCW is on a roll
It’s surprising to see that a tall shuttler like Axelsen is finding it difficult to lift the bird from the frontcourt.
11-5! Lee Chong Wei is running away with the lead against Axelsen
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) June 29, 2018
The crowd inside the Axiata Arena are loving it! #MalaysiaOpen2018
LIVE: https://t.co/a8huO2cY4x
Lee Chong Wei takes the first game: 21-17
Jump, find an angle and BOOM! Lee Chong Wei hits a booming cross-court smash to wrap up the first game against Axelsen. The Danish shuttler has succumbed to a slew of forehand shots near the forecourt.
Next up, it’s the men’s singles match between Viktor Axelsen and Lee Chong Wei. The first game is underway…
4-4! That was quick.
India's @Pvsindhu1 beats @CarolinaMarin to cruise in the last four of the Malaysian Open.🏸🇮🇳💪👏👏👏
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) June 29, 2018
World No3 Sindhu won the match 22-20; 21;19 in straight games to reach the semis.She will play Tai Tzu Ying [1] in the SF. Can't wait to watch them play! #BestofBadminton pic.twitter.com/ehImYNJbQA
PV Sindhu beats Carolina Marin: 22-20, 21-19
And the Olympic silver medallist beats the Olympic gold medallist in straight games and what a way to finish things off! A flat smash down the baseline. Unplayable! Marin couldn’t find her feet after falling awkwardly on her back. Meanwhile, Sindhu made sure that she kept on attacking Marin’s backhand side.
20-17!
Incredible reflexes and quick thinking from Sindhu to win that point!
MATCH POINT!
17-15! It feels like a trend now. Whenever Sindhu opens up a two-point lead, Marin closes the gap on her opponent’s lead.
Not this time though. Sindhu wins the next two points to make it 19-15
8 of the last 10 points have been won by Marin. Sindhu seems to have lost her focus after the mid-game break
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) June 29, 2018
Marin trails by a single point at 14-15#MalaysiaOpen2018
LIVE: https://t.co/a8huO2cY4x
Marin is going on all-out attack now. She wins four points on the trot to close the gap on Sindhu's lead. The Spaniard trails 10-13 #MalaysiaOpen2018
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) June 29, 2018
LIVE: https://t.co/a8huO2cY4x
Five straight points for Sindhu!
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) June 29, 2018
The lanky shuttler leads 11-6 against Marin at the mid-game break of the second game#MalaysiaOpen2018
LIVE: https://t.co/a8huO2cY4x
10-6! FOUR STRAIGHT POINTS FOR SINDHU
And the Indian shuttler is pumped up. Once she starts coasting, she is difficult to pull down. Excellent court coverage by Sindhu.
6-6! There's little to separate the two shuttlers here
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) June 29, 2018
It's a treat for all the neutrals watching #MalaysiaOpen2018
LIVE: https://t.co/a8huO2cY4x
3-3! Both Sindhu and Marin look sharper in the second game. Oh, there’s your cross-court shot. A booming cross-court smash by Sindhu.
The rallies are starting to grow longer
Sindhu wins first game: 22-20
A tight first game to begin with. Did you see that coming? We did. These two always produce a stunner. From forehand drives to a variety of trick shots, you’ll see it all. Sindhu takes a 1-0 lead.
Drama!
Marin win four straight points to claw back. The Spaniard leads 19-18 and Sindhu is under pressure now #MalaysiaOpen2018
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) June 29, 2018
LIVE: https://t.co/a8huO2cY4x
Whoa! That escalated quickly…
18-15!
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) June 29, 2018
Three consecutive points for Sindhu, who restores her lead over Marin. Will she finish it off in style? #MalaysiaOpen2018
LIVE: https://t.co/a8huO2cY4x
14-14! Both players are trying to attack the backhand side
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) June 29, 2018
It'll be interesting to see who takes the opening game#MalaysiaOpen2018
LIVE: https://t.co/a8huO2cY4x
3-3! Both Sindhu and Marin have started confidently
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) June 29, 2018
Are we in for another cracker of a match? #MalaysiaOpen2018
LIVE: https://t.co/a8huO2cY4x
And Sindhu starts off with a flat smash! Are we in for another cracker of a match?
Oh, and she makes it 3-1! Great start for Sindhu.
Up next, it’s the women’s singles match between PV Sindhu and Carolina Marin
Take a look at the overall head to head meetings between the two top-class shuttlers:
Kidambi Srikanth enters semi-finals
The Indian shuttler beats Brice Leverdez 21-18, 21-14 in just 39 minutes to enter the last four of the men’s singles department. After an end-to-end opening game, Srikanth tweaked his tactics to stretch his opponent at the baseline. Leverdez did manage to hit the shuttle near the tramlines but the Indian shuttler was quick enough to deal with it.
Just three points away!
18-12!
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) June 29, 2018
Srikanth is just three points away from registering an easy win over Leverdez #MalaysiaOpen2018
LIVE: https://t.co/a8huO2cY4x
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