Malaysia Open: Indian challenge over, Kidambi Srikanth exits
Other Sports | April 05, 2019 15:30 ISTSrikanth went down in straight games 18-21, 19-21 in the 48-minute contest.
Srikanth went down in straight games 18-21, 19-21 in the 48-minute contest.
Eighth-seeded Srikanth, who had reached the finals of a BWF World Tour event after 17 months at the India Open last week, defeated Thailand's Khosit Phetpradab 21-11, 21-15.
PV Sindhu defeated World No. 20 Aya Ohori 22-20 21-12 while Kidambi Srikanth got the better of Ihsan Maulana Mustofa 21-18 21-16.
Srikanth blew two game points in the second game to lose 7-21, 20-22 to Axelsen in the men's singles summit clash.
The 26-year-old from Guntur eked out a 14-21, 21-16, 21-19 triumph over China's Huang Yuxiang in an engrossing semifinal.
Sindhu, a 2017 champion and 2016 finalist, edged out Denmark's eighth seed Mia Blichfeldt 21-19, 22-20 in a closely-fought contest to set up a clash with China's He Bingjiao.
PV Sindhu brushed aside fellow Indian Mugdha Agrey 21-8, 21-13 in women's singles.
PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth will be expected to keep India's hopes afloat in the USD 350,000 India Open starting Tuesday.
Saina Nehwal went down 15-21 19-21 to Taiwanese Tai Tzu-Ying in the 37-minute quarterfinal clash.
Nobody from India has won the All England Championships in the last 18 years.
With defending champion HS Prannoy and finalist Kidambi Srikanth withdrawing due to fitness issues, former champion Sai Praneeth will be one of the favourites to lift the trophy
Sindhu and Saina will undoubtedly be the biggest attraction with some big names as last edition's finalists -- Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy are giving the tournament a miss due to fitness issues.
Saina Nehwal defeated Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-7 21-18 while Kidambi Srikanth lost to Jonatan Christie 18-21 19-21 in the quarter-finals of the Indonesia Masters.
PV Sindhu beat Mariska Tunjung 23-21, 21-7 while Kidambi Srikanth got the better of Kenta Nishimoto 21-14 21-9 to reach the quarter-finals of Indonesia Masters.
After the engagements of Premier Badminton League (PBL), Sindhu decided to skip last week's Malaysia Masters and she will begin her campaign against former Olympic gold medallist China's Li Xuerui on Wednesday.
Saina is the only Indian in women's singles event and will next play another unseeded shuttler from Hong Kong's Pui Yin Yip in the second round.
B Sai Praneeth, meanwhile, has decided to give the tournament a miss after featuring in the PBL for Bengaluru Raptors.
In Sindhu's absence, Saina will be the cynosure of all eyes and the celebrated Indian has been in decent form this year having won a gold at the Commonwealth Games and a bronze at the Asian Games.
The fourth seed Srikanth lost to eighth seed Kenta Nishimoto of Japan 21-17, 21-13 in straight games.
Kidambi Srikanth defeated HS Prannoy 18-21, 30-29, 21-18 in an all-Indian clash to enter the quarters of the Hong Kong Open.
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