PV Sindhu, Prannoy storm into BWF Championship quarter-finals

Srikanth Kidambi and Lakshya Sen also made it to the last eight of the competition.

PV Sindhu booked a place in the BWF Championship quarter-finals with a comfortable win over Pornpawee Chochuwang in the third round women’s singles clash on Thursday. The Indian shuttler came into the match with a lot of momentum and dispatched the Thai shuttler in straight games.

Sindhu started the match in emphatic fashion, gaining control from the off. She repeatedly won key breakpoints, helping her win the first game by the margin of 21-14. However, Chochuwang didn’t back off without a fight and put up an admirable effort in the second game.

However, the Indian shuttler maintained a strong resolve and won the game, sealing a 21-14, 21-18 straight win. Sindhu now faces the biggest test of the BWF World Championship in the quarter-finals, where she’ll take on World No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying.

Prannoy pulls off surprising upset to book quarters spot

HS Prannoy emerged out of a thrilling game against No. 11 seed Rasmus Gemke with a surprising win in the men’s third round clash. The Indian shuttler had a difficult start to the match, losing the first game 16-21 to put him under pressure.

However, Prannoy came out fighting when backed into a corner. The Indian shuttler completely dominated Gemke in the second game, winning it 21-8 to setup a thrilling finish.

The third game was a real test of willpower and neither player wanted to back down. The game was stretched until the very end, but Prannoy had the last laugh as he barely piped Gemke to a shocking 16-21, 21-8, 22-20 win, to move onto the BWF World Championship quarter-finals – where he’ll face Singapore shuttler Loh Kean Yew.

Srikanth, Sen dominate their way to quarter-finals

Srikanth Kidambi continued his impressive form at the BWF World Championship with a comfortable win over Chinese shuttler Lu Guangzu in the third round clash of the BWF World Championship. Kidambi was on point with his work on the day and did not let any element of complacency or error set into his game.

The Indian shuttler dominated his way to a straight games success, picking up a 21-10, 21-15 win to move onto the quarter-finals. Kidambi will now face Dutch shuttler Mark Caljouw in what is guaranteed to be a challenging quarter-final clash.

Lakshya Sen also ensured that there was no upset in his third round men’s singles clash against Guatemalan shuttler Kevin Cordon. The Indian had total control throughout the match and did not make any sloppy mistakes.

Sen ended up picking up a comfortable 21-13, 21-8 to become the third Indian in the quarter-finals of the men’s singles category.  

Disappointment in doubles clashes

Despite the prominent success in the BWF World Championship singles categories, the Indian contingent had a disappointing day when it came to the doubles brackets. In the men’s doubles third round clash, Indian duo Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy went down, despite a valiant effort against Malaysian pair of Teo Ee Yi and Ong Yew Sin.

The Malaysia duo put up an impressive effort to knock out the No. 8 seeds in a thrilling clash. Both doubles pairs started the match really well, with neither making any big mistakes and going toe-to-toe with each other. In the end, Yi and Sin stuck strongly and won the first game 22-20, taking an early advantage.

However, Chirag and Rankireddy bounced back strongly in the second game. They managed to break the Malaysian pair and won it 21-18 – setting up a grand finish. However, Yi and Sin showed strong resolve in the decisive final game, winning it to pick up a narrow 22-20, 18-21, 21-17 success and knocking out the Indian duo.

In the women’s doubles third round clash – Ashwini Ponnappa and Nelakurihi Sikki Reddy struggled against Thai pair Jongkolphang Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai. The Thailand duo was just too dominant for the Indian shuttlers and never really allowed them any control.

Kititharakul and Prajongjai were extremely efficient and dominant with their performance – picking up a decisive 21-13, 21-15 win to move into the quarter-finals to knockout the Indian pair.

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