India’s Asian Video games 2022 gold medallists Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy alongside bronze medallist HS Prannoy recorded contrasting victories and moved into the semi-finals of the India Open 2024 on the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium right here on Friday.
Whereas Chirag-Satwik registered a dominating 21-7, 21-10 victory towards Kim Astrup and Anders Rasmussen of Denmark, Prannoy needed to combat laborious to safe his maiden semi-final berth of the match by defeating Wang Tzu Wei of Chinese language Taipei in a 21-11, 17-21, 21-18 win.
Chirag-Satwik started the opening recreation with an announcement of intent by amassing a fast 11-3 lead. The previous champions maintained that momentum towards the fifth seed to assert the primary recreation in a mere 16-minute span.
Previous to this match, the Danish duo had notched two consecutive victories towards Chirag-Satwik. Nevertheless, the World No.2 put an finish to that run by scoring eight consecutive factors within the second recreation to seal the victory and arrange a extremely anticipated conflict with former World Champions Soh Wooi Yik and Aaron Chia of Malaysia.
Commenting on how they managed to safe the victory, Chirag Shetty shared, “In opposition to them (Kim and Anders), it isn’t at all times a recreation the place you might be challenged skillfully however additionally it is mentally. Whoever wins the psychological battle comes out on high and right this moment we did that fairly nicely. We normally don’t play such thoughts video games, however right this moment we made positive that we solely obtain and never play at their rhythm.”
“The way in which we began off was in a convincing trend and we stored it by way of the very finish. We’re actually pleased with the way in which we performed and we wish to preserve the momentum for tomorrow as nicely and provides 100%,” he added.
Much like his compatriots, the World Championships 2023 bronze medallist Prannoy made a robust begin towards his Taiwanese opponent by profitable a 26 level rally and set the tone for the sport by establishing a 13-4 lead within the first recreation. Regardless of a short resurgence from Wang, the eighth seed closed out the sport fairly effortlessly.
The second recreation noticed a rejuvenated Wang taking a lead of 13-6, and although Prannoy tried to slender the hole, the 28-year-old held on to power a tie-breaker.
There was not a lot that separated the 2 gamers in an intense third recreation. With the rating tied at 16-16, Prannoy seized a two-point lead and finally claimed victory in an hour and 17 minutes at hand Wang his fourth quarterfinal exit on the match.
“I believe it’s at all times powerful to play towards any person like Wang Tzu Wei, who’s exceptionally good alongside the online and assault. It was essential for me to get that first recreation as a result of he’s any person who will get going proper from the beginning,” mentioned HS Prannoy after his victory.
He added: “The second recreation didn’t go very well however I’m actually pleased with what I may do within the third recreation to combat again. Shi Yu Qi has been taking part in very well within the final six months and he seems fairly strong on the market. So it’s going to be powerful bodily and the key factor is to get the physique prepared for tomorrow,”
The World No 9 will face sixth-seeded Shi Yu Qui of China within the remaining 4.
Earlier within the day, Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu continued his gorgeous run within the match as he triumphed over Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Anthony Ginting of Indonesia with in an exhilarating 21-17, 18-21, 21-13 victory.
The 27-year-old continued to construct on his benefit and finally sealed the victory to arrange a semi-final tie towards second seed Kodai Naraoka of Japan.
In girls’s singles, second seed An-Se Younger’s title defence got here to an unlucky finish as she needed to retire because of damage, handing Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min her first semi-finals berth on the India Open.
Jia Min will face Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese language Taipei, who prevailed towards two-time World Championships bronze medallist He Bing Jiao of China with a snug 21-12, 21-12 victory.
Elsewhere, former World Champions Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand clinched a 21-17, 15-21, 27-25 victory over defending champions Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino of Japan.
