IMAGE: P V Sindhu in action against fellow-Indian Ashmita Chaliha in the women’s singles quarter-finals at the Yonex-Sunrise India Open badminton tournament, in New Delhi, on Friday. Photograph: BAI Media
Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu progressed to the women’s singles semi-finals, defeating fellow-Indian Ashmita Chaliha in straight games, at the Yonex-Sunrise India Open badminton tournament, in New Delhi, on Friday.
The top seed, a former World champion, needed 36 minutes to get the better of the 21-year-old Chaliha 21-7, 21-18 and set up a last-four meeting with Thailand’s Supanida Katethong.
Sixth seeded Katethong entered the semi-finals after third seeded Yeo Jia Min of Singapore pulled out of the tournament due to “high fever”.
The last time Sindhu was up against Chaliha, at the 83rd Yonex-Sunrise Senior National Championships in 2019, the youngster from Assam produced a spirited performance.
On Friday too she did. Chaliha took time to get into the groove and put up a good fight in the second game but couldn’t stop Sindhu from walking away with the match.
Sindhu came out all guns blazing in the opening game, racing to a 11-5 lead at the change-over and then reeled off the last 10 points to earn the bragging rights.
Chaliha gave a better account of herself in the second game as the scores were tied 9-9 before Sindhu managed a slender one-point advantage at the break.
Sindhu then established a 15-11 before Chaliha again clawed her way back to draw level at 15.
However, Sindhu switched gears and grabbed four match-points. Chaliha saved two before Sindhu closed out the match.
IMAGE: Aakarshi Kashyap during her quarter-final against compatriot Malvika Bansod. Photograph: BAI Media
In the other semi-final, Aakarshi Kashyap will face second seeded Thai Busanan Ongbamrungphan after notching a 21-12, 21-15 victory over compatriot Malvika Bansod in the quarter-finals.
Busanan trounced USA’s Lauren Lam 21-12, 21-8 in another last-eight match.
The men’s doubles pair of Ishaan Bhatnagar and Sai Pratheek K cut a sorry figure against Malaysian third seeds Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi, losing 7-21, 7-21 in 19 minutes.
In the mixed doubles, the Indian pairing of Venkat Gaurav Prasad and Juhi Dewangan, seeded 8th, were no match for the Malaysian combination of Chen Tang Jie and Peck Yen Wei, going down 10-21, 13-21 in 23 minutes.
Another Indian pair, Nithin HV and Ashwini Bhat K lost 15-21, 19-21 to Singapore’s Hee Yong Kai Terry and Tan Wei Han and bowed out of the US $400,000 event.
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