Mulheim: Mar 10 (IANS) The Indian contingent had a mixed day at the German Open BWF World Tour Super 300 badminton event. Their hopes in the women’s section ended with the departure of PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, while Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy made it to the men’s singles category. quarterfinals on Thursday.
Two-time Olympic medalist Sindhu lost to 2021 world championship bronze medalist Zhang Yi Man 14-21, 21-15, 14-21 in a women’s singles second-round match that lasted 55 minutes, while Nehwal she fell to Thailand’s eighth seed Ratchanok Intanon. 21-10, 21-15 in 31 minutes.
In men’s singles, Srikanth defeated China’s Liu Guang Zu 21-16, 21-23, 21-18 in a second-round match that lasted over an hour. There was more good news for India as HS Prannoy defeated Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu 21-19, 24-22 in another second round match.
In the men’s doubles, Indians Krishna Prasad Garaga and Vishnuvardhan Goud Panjala also reached the quarterfinals, defeating their compatriots Ishan Bhatnagar and Sai Pratheek K in three games, 23-21, 16-21, 21-14 in the second round. meeting.
IN the second round of the women’s singles, former world champion Sindhu, who is currently ranked No. 7 in the world, started the match in the expected lines and dominated the first exchanges. However, the Chinese midfielder, ranked 34th in the world, picked up eight straight points after trailing 3-5 and kept her lead to clinch the first game.
The Indian came from behind and took advantage of the next game to level the match. The see-saw battle continued in the deciding game, but Sindhu’s younger opponent regularly contributed successive points to win the contest.
Saina, who had survived a tough three-game encounter with Spain’s Clara Azurmendi in the first round, found Ratchanok too strong in their second-round encounter and lost in back-to-back games. The Thai player was in complete control and won 42 of the 67 total points played.
Playing Lu Guang Zu of China in the second round of the men’s singles, Srikanth won the first game when he pulled away from 10-10. Although his rival caught up with him again at 14-1, the eighth-seeded Indian won four straight points to make it 18-14 and then won 21-16.
Lu came back strong in the second game, took an early lead and although Srikanth caught up with him at 15-15 and the scores were even after that, the Chinese player won two points from 21-21, winning at this second game point. .
After initial skirmishes in the decider, they were 10-15 ahead, but Lu leveled the scores at 10-10. The two players fought tooth and nail for every point as the lead changed hands from 15-15 and Srikanth won the game and match at 21-18 to secure a spot in the last eight.