Indian shuttler PV Sindhu stormed into the Singapore Open title clash with a commanding win over lower-ranked Japanese Saena Kawakami in the women's singles semi-final, here on Saturday. Sindhu, a double Olympic medallist, who had claimed two Super 300 titles at Syed Modi International and Swiss Open this year, prevailed 21-15 21-7 over world number 38 Kawakami in a 32-minute last-four clash.

The 27-year-old from Hyderabad, who has also claimed a bronze at the Asian Championships this year, is now one win away from her maiden Super 500 title of the 2022 season.

The third seeded Indian will face the winner of the other semi-final match between Japan's Aya Ohori and China's Wang Zhi Yi in the finals on Sunday.

Sindhu came into the match with a 2-0 head-to-head record, having played her last at the 2018 China Open. Kawakami had received a walk-over from top-seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in the second round.

A former world number 15, Kawakami, winner of the 2019 Orleans Masters and a finalist at Swiss Open the same year, was a part of the Japanese women's team that won the bronze medal in May this year. The Japanese had played just three events last year and it was her fifth tournament in 2022.

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Sindhu, a former world champion, looked in complete command against Kawakami, who just couldn't control the shuttle and was buried in a heap of errors during the lop-sided match.

Early on, Sindhu started with her whipping smashes but the drift inside the hall, made decision-making difficult and also at times, the precision was lacking.

But the power in her stroke-play helped the Indian moved to a healthy three-point lead at the break. The 24-year-old Japanese, however, started putting the shuttle in from difficult positions to draw parity. The match came alive with both fighting for each point.

Sindhu also won two video referrals, punished a weak high lift and also made good calls at the baseline to move to 18-14. A power-packed smash and then two unforced errors by Kawakami helped Sindhu seal the opening game comfortably.

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Kawakami's struggles continued in the second game as she failed to control the shuttle and conceded a 0-5 early lead to her fancied rival. Sindhu just had to keep engaging her rival in the rallies and patiently wait for her mistakes. A frustrated Kawakami just could wryly smile as Sindhu first grabbed a 11-4 lead at the mid-game interval and then zoomed to 17-5 in a jiffy.

The Japanese had no answer to Sindhu's attacking forehand returns and deft backhand flicks which opened up a decisive 19-6 lead for her.

Sindhu sent one long but next unleashed a whipping smash from the baseline which her opponent could only sent to the net. When Kawakami's return finally went out again, Sindhu pumped her fist to announce her entry into the finals. The two-time Commonwealth Games medallist, will lead the Indian charge at the quadrennial event in Birmingham starting July 28.

Indian shuttler PV Sindhu stormed into the Singapore Open title clash with a commanding win over lower-ranked Japanese Saena Kawakami in the women's singles semi-final, here on Saturday.

Indian shuttler PV Sindhu stormed into the Singapore Open title clash with a commanding win over lower-ranked Japanese Saena Kawakami in the women's singles semi-final, here on Saturday. Sindhu, a double Olympic medallist, who had claimed two Super 300 titles at Syed Modi International and Swiss Open this year, prevailed 21-15 21-7 over world number 38 Kawakami in a 32-minute last-four clash. The 27-year-old from Hyderabad, who has also claimed a bronze at the Asian Championships this year, is now one win away from her maiden Super 500 title of the 2022 season. The third seeded Indian will face the winner of the other semi-final match between Japan's Aya Ohori and China's Wang Zhi Yi in the finals on Sunday. Sindhu came into the match with a 2-0 head-to-head record, having played her last at the 2018 China Open. Kawakami had received a walk-over from top-seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in the second round. A former world number 15, Kawakami, winner of the 2019 Orleans Masters and a finalist at Swiss Open the same year, was a part of the Japanese women's team that won the bronze medal in May this year. The Japanese had played just three events last year and it was her fifth tournament in 2022. Also Read: Singapore Open: PV Sindhu edges past Han Yue in a thriller to enter semi-finals Sindhu, a former world champion, looked in complete command against Kawakami, who just couldn't control the shuttle and was buried in a heap of errors during the lop-sided match. Early on, Sindhu started with her whipping smashes but the drift inside the hall, made decision-making difficult and also at times, the precision was lacking. But the power in her stroke-play helped the Indian moved to a healthy three-point lead at the break. The 24-year-old Japanese, however, started putting the shuttle in from difficult positions to draw parity. The match came alive with both fighting for each point. Sindhu also won two video referrals, punished a weak high lift and also made good calls at the baseline to move to 18-14. A power-packed smash and then two unforced errors by Kawakami helped Sindhu seal the opening game comfortably. Also Read: Maria Sharapova and fiance welcome their first baby, tennis star shares adorable photo Kawakami's struggles continued in the second game as she failed to control the shuttle and conceded a 0-5 early lead to her fancied rival. Sindhu just had to keep engaging her rival in the rallies and patiently wait for her mistakes. A frustrated Kawakami just could wryly smile as Sindhu first grabbed a 11-4 lead at the mid-game interval and then zoomed to 17-5 in a jiffy. The Japanese had no answer to Sindhu's attacking forehand returns and deft backhand flicks which opened up a decisive 19-6 lead for her. Sindhu sent one long but next unleashed a whipping smash from the baseline which her opponent could only sent to the net. When Kawakami's return finally went out again, Sindhu pumped her fist to announce her entry into the finals. The two-time Commonwealth Games medallist, will lead the Indian charge at the quadrennial event in Birmingham starting July 28.

Singapore Open 2022: PV Sindhu defeats Japan's Saena Kawakami to storm into final

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu overcame a strong challenge from her Chinese rival Han Yue in a battle lasting more than an hour to book her semifinal berth in the Singapore Open Super 500 Tournament here on Friday. The World No. 7 found the going tough early in the first game as Han was clinical with her placement and drew the first blood, but the Indian bounced back strongly to win the second and seal the issue 17-21 21-11 21-19 in a contest lasting 62 minutes. Sindhu now leads 3-0 against the Chinese head-to-head.

This was Sindhu's first semifinal entry since the Thailand Open in May and it remains to be seen if she is able to make it all the way in their last event before the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Sindhu will next face unseeded Saena Kawakami, the Japanese world No. 38 who caused an upset by eliminating sixth-seeded Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand 21-17 21-19.

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Two other Indians -- veteran Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy -- too are vying for a last-four berth in the tournament and will be in action later in the day. The world No. 19 had it easy in the first game after racing to 11-9 in the interval as Sindhu struggled with her defence. The Indian bounced back in the second and took a three-point lead in the mid-game interval.

Sindhu extended her lead with a perfect cross-court winner and clinched the second game with seven points on the trot. It turned out to be a thriller in the end as Sindhu, who found herself in familiar territory trailing 8-11 and then 9-14 in the decider, produced some fine rallies. Sindhu showed great resilience to come back and level it at 14-all with five points in a row. It became 19-all before Sindhu sealed it in her favour.

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu overcame a strong challenge from her Chinese rival Han Yue in a battle lasting more than an hour to book her semifinal berth in the Singapore Open Super 500 Tournament here on Friday.

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu overcame a strong challenge from her Chinese rival Han Yue in a battle lasting more than an hour to book her semifinal berth in the Singapore Open Super 500 Tournament here on Friday. The World No. 7 found the going tough early in the first game as Han was clinical with her placement and drew the first blood, but the Indian bounced back strongly to win the second and seal the issue 17-21 21-11 21-19 in a contest lasting 62 minutes. Sindhu now leads 3-0 against the Chinese head-to-head. This was Sindhu's first semifinal entry since the Thailand Open in May and it remains to be seen if she is able to make it all the way in their last event before the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Sindhu will next face unseeded Saena Kawakami, the Japanese world No. 38 who caused an upset by eliminating sixth-seeded Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand 21-17 21-19. ALSO READ | Singapore Open: Saina Nehwal, Arjun-Kapila duo enter quarterfinals Two other Indians -- veteran Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy -- too are vying for a last-four berth in the tournament and will be in action later in the day. The world No. 19 had it easy in the first game after racing to 11-9 in the interval as Sindhu struggled with her defence. The Indian bounced back in the second and took a three-point lead in the mid-game interval. Sindhu extended her lead with a perfect cross-court winner and clinched the second game with seven points on the trot. It turned out to be a thriller in the end as Sindhu, who found herself in familiar territory trailing 8-11 and then 9-14 in the decider, produced some fine rallies. Sindhu showed great resilience to come back and level it at 14-all with five points in a row. It became 19-all before Sindhu sealed it in her favour.

Singapore Open: PV Sindhu edges past Han Yue in a thriller to enter semi-finals

Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal advanced to the quarterfinals of the ongoing Singapore Open 2022, defeating China`s He Bingjiao in the second round of the women`s singles category. Nehwal defeated her Chinese counterpart by 21-19, 11-21, 21-17. She was off to a good start and won her first game. But Bingjio defeated her by a huge margin in the second game. Nehwal prevailed in the closely-contested decider, booking her slot in the final eight of the competition.

The star Indian shuttler had reached the second round by defeating compatriot Malvika Bansod in their round one game by 21-18, 21-15, in a match that lasted 34 minutes.On the other hand, the Indian duo of Arjun MR and Dhruv Kapila won their second-round match in the men`s doubles category against the Malaysian duo of Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin and confirmed their slot in the quarterfinals. In a match that lasted for one hour and five minutes, Arjun-Kapila reigned supreme over their opponents by 18-21, 24-22, and 21-18. The Indian duo lost their first game, but they bounced back to win their second and third games.

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Earlier on Thursday, Indian Olympic medalist PV Sindhu defeated Vietnam`s Nguyen Thuy Linh in the second round of the women`s singles category to reach the quarterfinals of the ongoing Singapore Open 2022.Playing on court 1, Sindhu won her match 19-21, 21-19, 21-18. She got off a bad start, losing the first game closely. The Indian however kept her calm in the next two games and won them. The match was an extremely close-contested one and lasted one hour, six minutes.

The action continued on court 2, where Prannoy HS also won his first-round match against Taiwan`s Chou Tien-Chen and proceeded to the quarterfinals on Thursday. Prannoy won 21-14, 20-22, 18-21. He lost the first game but bounced back to win the next two games and seal the match which lasted one hour and nine minutes.

Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal advanced to the quarterfinals of the ongoing Singapore Open 2022, defeating China`s He Bingjiao in the second round of the women`s singles category.

Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal advanced to the quarterfinals of the ongoing Singapore Open 2022, defeating China`s He Bingjiao in the second round of the women`s singles category. Nehwal defeated her Chinese counterpart by 21-19, 11-21, 21-17. She was off to a good start and won her first game. But Bingjio defeated her by a huge margin in the second game. Nehwal prevailed in the closely-contested decider, booking her slot in the final eight of the competition. The star Indian shuttler had reached the second round by defeating compatriot Malvika Bansod in their round one game by 21-18, 21-15, in a match that lasted 34 minutes.On the other hand, the Indian duo of Arjun MR and Dhruv Kapila won their second-round match in the men`s doubles category against the Malaysian duo of Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin and confirmed their slot in the quarterfinals. In a match that lasted for one hour and five minutes, Arjun-Kapila reigned supreme over their opponents by 18-21, 24-22, and 21-18. The Indian duo lost their first game, but they bounced back to win their second and third games. ALSO READ | Singapore Open: PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy progress ahead, into the quarter-finals Earlier on Thursday, Indian Olympic medalist PV Sindhu defeated Vietnam`s Nguyen Thuy Linh in the second round of the women`s singles category to reach the quarterfinals of the ongoing Singapore Open 2022.Playing on court 1, Sindhu won her match 19-21, 21-19, 21-18. She got off a bad start, losing the first game closely. The Indian however kept her calm in the next two games and won them. The match was an extremely close-contested one and lasted one hour, six minutes. The action continued on court 2, where Prannoy HS also won his first-round match against Taiwan`s Chou Tien-Chen and proceeded to the quarterfinals on Thursday. Prannoy won 21-14, 20-22, 18-21. He lost the first game but bounced back to win the next two games and seal the match which lasted one hour and nine minutes.

Singapore Open: Saina Nehwal, Arjun-Kapila duo enter quarterfinals

Top Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy and Saina Nehwal advanced to the quarterfinals of the Singapore Open 2022 after registering hard-fought wins in their second-round matches, here on Thursday. 
 
World No 7 Sindhu came from a game down in her women`s singles match to defeat world No 59 Thuy Linh Nguyen of Vietnam 19-21, 21-19, 21-18 in one hour and six minutes. 
 
Sindhu was caught off-guard by her lower-ranked opponent in the first game and was in a spot of bother, trailing 19-17 in the second game. However, she rallied to score four consecutive points and took the match into the decider. 
 
Riding the momentum, the two-time Olympic medallist took a 9-3 lead in the third game but Thuy Linh Nguyen cut it to 11-10 heading into the break. Both players contested fiercely for the remainder of the match and eventually, it was the experienced Sindhu who progressed to the quarterfinals of the BWF Super 500 badminton tournament.

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In the men`s singles, India`s Thomas Cup hero HS Prannoy, ranked 19th, also scripted a comeback to upset world No. 4 Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei 21-14, 20-22, 21-18 in one hour and nine minutes. 
 
The Indian shuttler went down in the first game but overcame a four-point deficit in the second to keep his quarterfinal chances alive. Trailing 11-6 at the break in the third game, Prannoy chipped away eight of the next 11 points to level the score at 14-all. The Indian shuttler kicked off from there on to storm into his fourth successive quarterfinals. 
 
On the other hand, London 2012 bronze medallist Saina Nehwal defeated world No 9 He Bing Jiao of China 21-19, 11-21, 21-17 in 58 minutes to move into the quarter-finals. 
 
However, Mithun Manjunath, who beat world championships silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth on Wednesday, went down to Ireland`s world No. 42 Nhat Nguyen 10-21, 21-18, 16-21.

Top Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy and Saina Nehwal advanced to the quarterfinals of the Singapore Open 2022 after registering hard-fought wins in their second-round matches, here on Thursday.

Top Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy and Saina Nehwal advanced to the quarterfinals of the Singapore Open 2022 after registering hard-fought wins in their second-round matches, here on Thursday. World No 7 Sindhu came from a game down in her women`s singles match to defeat world No 59 Thuy Linh Nguyen of Vietnam 19-21, 21-19, 21-18 in one hour and six minutes. Sindhu was caught off-guard by her lower-ranked opponent in the first game and was in a spot of bother, trailing 19-17 in the second game. However, she rallied to score four consecutive points and took the match into the decider. Riding the momentum, the two-time Olympic medallist took a 9-3 lead in the third game but Thuy Linh Nguyen cut it to 11-10 heading into the break. Both players contested fiercely for the remainder of the match and eventually, it was the experienced Sindhu who progressed to the quarterfinals of the BWF Super 500 badminton tournament. ALSO READ | Grace Geyoro grabs a first half hat-trick as France thrash Italy 5-1 in Women's Euro 2022 In the men`s singles, India`s Thomas Cup hero HS Prannoy, ranked 19th, also scripted a comeback to upset world No. 4 Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei 21-14, 20-22, 21-18 in one hour and nine minutes. The Indian shuttler went down in the first game but overcame a four-point deficit in the second to keep his quarterfinal chances alive. Trailing 11-6 at the break in the third game, Prannoy chipped away eight of the next 11 points to level the score at 14-all. The Indian shuttler kicked off from there on to storm into his fourth successive quarterfinals. On the other hand, London 2012 bronze medallist Saina Nehwal defeated world No 9 He Bing Jiao of China 21-19, 11-21, 21-17 in 58 minutes to move into the quarter-finals. However, Mithun Manjunath, who beat world championships silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth on Wednesday, went down to Ireland`s world No. 42 Nhat Nguyen 10-21, 21-18, 16-21.

Singapore Open: PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy progress ahead, into the quarter-finals

Indian shuttlers Mithun Manjunath and Ashmita Chaliha notched up stunning wins over their illustrious rivals to hog the limelight on the second day of the Singapore Open Super 500 tournament here on Wednesday.

While Mithun recorded a stunning 21-17 15-21 21-18 win over compatriot and World championships silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth in men's singles, Ashmita shocked Thailand's world number 12 Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-16 21-11 in women's singles.

The world No. 77 Mithun, a product of the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, will next take on Ireland's Nhat Nguyen, while Ashmita faces China's Han Yue. For two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu and man-in-form HS Prannoy, it was also a good day in office as the two also progressed to the second round with facile wins.

Sindhu looked in complete control as she prevailed 21-15 21-11 over Belgium world No. 36 Lianne Tan to set up a clash with Vietnam's Thuy Linh Nguyen.

Prannoy, who had reached the semifinals at Malaysia Masters last week, saw off Thailand's Sitthikom Thammasin 21-13 21-16 and will next meet third seeded Chou Tien Chen, whom he had beaten at Malaysia Open recently.

London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal also avenged her India Open loss to compatriot Malvika Bansod with a 21-18 21-14 win to make it to the second round.

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Manjunath, who had reached the finals of Orleans Masters Super 100 in April this year, came out all guns blazing as he dominated the opening game after taking an early 6-2 lead. He kept Srikanth at bay to comfortably seal the opening game.

Srikanth, however, turned the tables after the change of ends as he enjoyed an 11-8 cushion at the break and kept extending his lead to come back into the contest. The decider turned into a roller-coaster ride with the two slugging it out but it was Manjunath, who showed better control as he ensured a slender one-point advantage at the breather.

Srikanth managed to take a 16-15 lead at one stage but Manjunath didn't let the opportunity slip and reeled off the last three points from 18-18 to notch up one of the biggest win of his nascent international career.

Manjunath, 24, has been in fine fettle as he reached his maiden Super-100 final at Orleans Masters in France last April. He had claimed four All-India ranking titles, including the Senior Ranking Badminton tournament in December last year. 
Earlier in the year, he had contracted COVID-19 and had to withdraw from India Open Super 500 in January.

He, however, made it to the Indian team for the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Malaysia after a semifinal finish at Syed Modi International and quarterfinals at Odisha Super 100. Ashmita, world number 66, also dished out a superlative performance as he fought back from 5-10 down with an eight-point burst to zoom ahead and earn the bragging rights.

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The 22-year-old from Assam kept up the tempo in the second game as well with an early 7-2 lead. Busanan cut it down to 6-7 but the Indian once again reeled off nine points on the trot to slam the door on her rival.

Earlier, Sindhu took time to get off the block, lagging 1-4 but she pulled away from 7-7 to never look back. After 11-8 lead at the mid-game interval, she kept moving ahead to pocket the opening game.

She continued the momentum in the second game with a 5-1 advantage. A three-point burst helped Tan to narrow the lead but a relentless Sindhu stepped up her game to seal the issue without much ado. Among others, Pooja Dandu and Arathi Sara Sunil moved into the women's doubles second round after the Chinese Taipei duo of Hu Ling Fang and Lin Xiao Min withdrew from the tournament.

Indian shuttlers Mithun Manjunath and Ashmita Chaliha notched up stunning wins over their illustrious rivals to hog the limelight on the second day of the Singapore Open Super 500 tournament here on Wednesday.

Indian shuttlers Mithun Manjunath and Ashmita Chaliha notched up stunning wins over their illustrious rivals to hog the limelight on the second day of the Singapore Open Super 500 tournament here on Wednesday. While Mithun recorded a stunning 21-17 15-21 21-18 win over compatriot and World championships silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth in men's singles, Ashmita shocked Thailand's world number 12 Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-16 21-11 in women's singles. The world No. 77 Mithun, a product of the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, will next take on Ireland's Nhat Nguyen, while Ashmita faces China's Han Yue. For two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu and man-in-form HS Prannoy, it was also a good day in office as the two also progressed to the second round with facile wins. Sindhu looked in complete control as she prevailed 21-15 21-11 over Belgium world No. 36 Lianne Tan to set up a clash with Vietnam's Thuy Linh Nguyen. Prannoy, who had reached the semifinals at Malaysia Masters last week, saw off Thailand's Sitthikom Thammasin 21-13 21-16 and will next meet third seeded Chou Tien Chen, whom he had beaten at Malaysia Open recently. London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal also avenged her India Open loss to compatriot Malvika Bansod with a 21-18 21-14 win to make it to the second round. Also Read: Russia, Belarus athletes may face ban at Paris Olympics 2024, says IOC member Craig Reedie Manjunath, who had reached the finals of Orleans Masters Super 100 in April this year, came out all guns blazing as he dominated the opening game after taking an early 6-2 lead. He kept Srikanth at bay to comfortably seal the opening game. Srikanth, however, turned the tables after the change of ends as he enjoyed an 11-8 cushion at the break and kept extending his lead to come back into the contest. The decider turned into a roller-coaster ride with the two slugging it out but it was Manjunath, who showed better control as he ensured a slender one-point advantage at the breather. Srikanth managed to take a 16-15 lead at one stage but Manjunath didn't let the opportunity slip and reeled off the last three points from 18-18 to notch up one of the biggest win of his nascent international career. Manjunath, 24, has been in fine fettle as he reached his maiden Super-100 final at Orleans Masters in France last April. He had claimed four All-India ranking titles, including the Senior Ranking Badminton tournament in December last year. Earlier in the year, he had contracted COVID-19 and had to withdraw from India Open Super 500 in January. He, however, made it to the Indian team for the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Malaysia after a semifinal finish at Syed Modi International and quarterfinals at Odisha Super 100. Ashmita, world number 66, also dished out a superlative performance as he fought back from 5-10 down with an eight-point burst to zoom ahead and earn the bragging rights. Also Read: 'That will stay with me forever': Brett Lee reveals Virat Kohli's special gesture for his son The 22-year-old from Assam kept up the tempo in the second game as well with an early 7-2 lead. Busanan cut it down to 6-7 but the Indian once again reeled off nine points on the trot to slam the door on her rival. Earlier, Sindhu took time to get off the block, lagging 1-4 but she pulled away from 7-7 to never look back. After 11-8 lead at the mid-game interval, she kept moving ahead to pocket the opening game. She continued the momentum in the second game with a 5-1 advantage. A three-point burst helped Tan to narrow the lead but a relentless Sindhu stepped up her game to seal the issue without much ado. Among others, Pooja Dandu and Arathi Sara Sunil moved into the women's doubles second round after the Chinese Taipei duo of Hu Ling Fang and Lin Xiao Min withdrew from the tournament.

Singapore Open 2022: Mithun, Ashmita register stunning victories; Sindhu, Prannoy also bag wins

&nbsp;Indian shuttler HS Prannoy cruised into the semi-finals of the ongoing Malaysia Masters 2022 on Friday after beating Kanta Tsuneyama. Playing on Court 1, Prannoy`s defence was solid and the jump smashes &amp; net-play were delightful. But the highlight was the composure he showed at the end. Prannoy defeated Kanta Tsuneyama 25-23, 22-20, in a match that lasted for one hour.

He becomes the only Indian to reach the semifinals in the tournament. The 29-year-old shuttler completely dominated the proceedings in both rounds and secured his semi-finals berth. Earlier in the day, Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu crashed out of the ongoing Malaysia Masters 2022 on Friday after losing to Tai Tzu-ying 13-21, 21-12, 12-21 in the quarter-finals.

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Sindhu started the decider well and was in the game even at the break but seemed like she started getting frustrated by Tzu-ying`s fightback and her own fine margins with challenges.&nbsp;

Indian shuttler HS Prannoy cruised into the semi-finals of the ongoing Malaysia Masters 2022 on Friday after beating Kanta Tsuneyama. Playing on Court 1, Prannoy`s defence was solid and the jump smashes & net-play were delightful.

Indian shuttler HS Prannoy cruised into the semi-finals of the ongoing Malaysia Masters 2022 on Friday after beating Kanta Tsuneyama. Playing on Court 1, Prannoy`s defence was solid and the jump smashes & net-play were delightful. But the highlight was the composure he showed at the end. Prannoy defeated Kanta Tsuneyama 25-23, 22-20, in a match that lasted for one hour. He becomes the only Indian to reach the semifinals in the tournament. The 29-year-old shuttler completely dominated the proceedings in both rounds and secured his semi-finals berth. Earlier in the day, Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu crashed out of the ongoing Malaysia Masters 2022 on Friday after losing to Tai Tzu-ying 13-21, 21-12, 12-21 in the quarter-finals. ALSO READ | PV Sindhu bows out of Malaysia Masters, loses to Tai Tzu-ying in deciding set in quarter-final clash Sindhu started the decider well and was in the game even at the break but seemed like she started getting frustrated by Tzu-ying`s fightback and her own fine margins with challenges.

Malaysia Masters 2022: HS Prannoy storms into semi-finals with dominant win vs Kanta Tsuneyama

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu crashed out of the ongoing Malaysia Masters 2022 on Friday after losing to Tai Tzu-ying in the quarter-finals. Playing on Court 2, Tai Tzu-ying worked her opponent around before drawing an error. She bagged the first game 21-13 in 14 minutes. In the next game, Sindhu fought back and played aggressively to claim it 21-12.

With this, Sindhu forced the decider. Sindhu started the decider well and was in the game even at the break but seemed like she started getting frustrated by Tzu-ying`s fightback and her own fine margins with challenges.

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The Indian put up a strong fight but lost 12-21. Another fantastic performance from Tzu-ying and she increased her head-to-head record against the Indian 17-5. Later in the day, Indian shuttler HS Prannoy will take the Court against Japan`s Kanta Tsuneyama to seal his place in the semifinals of the Malaysia Masters 2022. 
&nbsp;

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu crashed out of the ongoing Malaysia Masters 2022 on Friday after losing to Tai Tzu-ying in the quarter-finals. Playing on Court 2, Tai Tzu-ying worked her opponent around before drawing an error.

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu crashed out of the ongoing Malaysia Masters 2022 on Friday after losing to Tai Tzu-ying in the quarter-finals. Playing on Court 2, Tai Tzu-ying worked her opponent around before drawing an error. She bagged the first game 21-13 in 14 minutes. In the next game, Sindhu fought back and played aggressively to claim it 21-12. With this, Sindhu forced the decider. Sindhu started the decider well and was in the game even at the break but seemed like she started getting frustrated by Tzu-ying`s fightback and her own fine margins with challenges. ALSO READ | Malaysia Masters 2022: PV Sindhu enters quarter-finals with easy win; Sai Praneeth bows out The Indian put up a strong fight but lost 12-21. Another fantastic performance from Tzu-ying and she increased her head-to-head record against the Indian 17-5. Later in the day, Indian shuttler HS Prannoy will take the Court against Japan`s Kanta Tsuneyama to seal his place in the semifinals of the Malaysia Masters 2022.

PV Sindhu bows out of Malaysia Masters, loses to Tai Tzu-ying in deciding set in quarter-final clash

Indian shuttler HS Prannoy cruised into the quarter-finals of the ongoing Malaysia Masters 2022 on Thursday. Playing at Court 3, Prannoy defeated Taiwan`s Wang Tzu-Wei 21-19, 21-16, in a match that lasted for 44 minutes. The 29-year-old shuttler completely dominated the proceedings in both rounds and secured his quarter-finals berth. Earlier in the day, two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu stormed into the quarter-finals after defeating China`s Zhang Yiman 21-12, 21-10, in a game that lasted 28 minutes, here at Court 3.

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On the other hand, B Sai Praneeth bowed out of the tournament after losing in the Round of 16, men`s singles clash against China`s Li Shifeng 21-14, 21-17, in a match that lasted 42 minutes. Shuttler Parupalli also crashed out of the tournament after losing to Indonesia`s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting 21-10, 21-15, in a match that lasted for 34 minutes, here at Court 2.&nbsp;

Indian shuttler HS Prannoy cruised into the quarter-finals of the ongoing Malaysia Masters 2022 on Thursday. Playing at Court 3, Prannoy defeated Taiwan`s Wang Tzu-Wei 21-19, 21-16, in a match that lasted for 44 minutes.

Indian shuttler HS Prannoy cruised into the quarter-finals of the ongoing Malaysia Masters 2022 on Thursday. Playing at Court 3, Prannoy defeated Taiwan`s Wang Tzu-Wei 21-19, 21-16, in a match that lasted for 44 minutes. The 29-year-old shuttler completely dominated the proceedings in both rounds and secured his quarter-finals berth. Earlier in the day, two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu stormed into the quarter-finals after defeating China`s Zhang Yiman 21-12, 21-10, in a game that lasted 28 minutes, here at Court 3. ALSO READ | Malaysia Masters 2022: PV Sindhu enters quarter-finals with easy win; Sai Praneeth bows out On the other hand, B Sai Praneeth bowed out of the tournament after losing in the Round of 16, men`s singles clash against China`s Li Shifeng 21-14, 21-17, in a match that lasted 42 minutes. Shuttler Parupalli also crashed out of the tournament after losing to Indonesia`s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting 21-10, 21-15, in a match that lasted for 34 minutes, here at Court 2.

Malaysia Masters 2022: HS Prannoy enters QFs with straight-set win over Wang Tzu-Wei

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu stormed into the quarter-finals of the ongoing Malaysia Masters 2022 on Thursday. In the Round of 16 match, Sindhu defeated China`s Zhang Yiman 21-12, 21-10, in a game that lasted 28 minutes, here at Court 3. The Indian shuttler completely dominated the proceedings in both rounds and made her way into the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, shuttler B Sai Praneeth bowed out of the tournament after losing in the Round of 16, men`s singles clash.Playing at Court 4, Praneeth lost against China`s Li Shifeng 21-14, 21-17, in a match that lasted 42 minutes.Later in the day, HS Prannoy will be going up against Taiwan`s Wang Tzu-Wei in men`s singles clash.&nbsp;

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu stormed into the quarter-finals of the ongoing Malaysia Masters 2022 on Thursday. In the Round of 16 match, Sindhu defeated China`s Zhang Yiman 21-12, 21-10, in a game that lasted 28 minutes, here at Court 3.

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu stormed into the quarter-finals of the ongoing Malaysia Masters 2022 on Thursday. In the Round of 16 match, Sindhu defeated China`s Zhang Yiman 21-12, 21-10, in a game that lasted 28 minutes, here at Court 3. The Indian shuttler completely dominated the proceedings in both rounds and made her way into the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, shuttler B Sai Praneeth bowed out of the tournament after losing in the Round of 16, men`s singles clash.Playing at Court 4, Praneeth lost against China`s Li Shifeng 21-14, 21-17, in a match that lasted 42 minutes.Later in the day, HS Prannoy will be going up against Taiwan`s Wang Tzu-Wei in men`s singles clash.

Malaysia Masters 2022: PV Sindhu enters quarter-finals with easy win; Sai Praneeth bows out

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu had to toil hard before emerging victorious in the opening round of the Malaysia Masters while compatriot Saina Nehwal made a second consecutive first-round exit here on Wednesday. The seventh-seeded Sindhu took close to an hour to knock out China's He Bing Jiao 21-13 17-21 21-15 and move to the second round.

With this win, world number seven Sindhu exacted revenge for her first-round exit from the Indonesia Open Super 1000 last month, when Bing Jiao had defeated her in straight games. The Chinese still leads the head-to-head 10-9.

London Olympics bronze medallist Saina, on the other hand, squandered a one-game lead to go down 21-16 17-21 14-21 to Kim Ga Eun of South Korea. The world number 24 Indian had also made a first-round exit from the Malaysia Open Super 750 tournament last week.

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In the men's singles, B Sai Praneeth and Parupalli Kashyap moved to the second round with contrasting wins. While Praneeth hardly broke a sweat against Kevin Cordon, registering an easy 21-8 21-9 win over the Guatemalan in less than half an hour, Kashyap came back from a one-game deficit to dispatch local favourite Tommy Sugiarto 16-21 21-16 21-16. Praneeth will take on Li Shi Feng in the pre-quarterfinals.

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However, it was the end of the road for Sameer Verma, who went down fighting to fourth seed Chinese Taipei shuttler Chou Tien Chen 21-10 12-21 14-21. Later in the day, HS Prannoy and the women's doubles pair of N Sikki Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa will be in action.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu had to toil hard before emerging victorious in the opening round of the Malaysia Masters while compatriot Saina Nehwal made a second consecutive first-round exit here on Wednesday.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu had to toil hard before emerging victorious in the opening round of the Malaysia Masters while compatriot Saina Nehwal made a second consecutive first-round exit here on Wednesday. The seventh-seeded Sindhu took close to an hour to knock out China's He Bing Jiao 21-13 17-21 21-15 and move to the second round. With this win, world number seven Sindhu exacted revenge for her first-round exit from the Indonesia Open Super 1000 last month, when Bing Jiao had defeated her in straight games. The Chinese still leads the head-to-head 10-9. London Olympics bronze medallist Saina, on the other hand, squandered a one-game lead to go down 21-16 17-21 14-21 to Kim Ga Eun of South Korea. The world number 24 Indian had also made a first-round exit from the Malaysia Open Super 750 tournament last week. Also Read: Rafael Nadal vs Taylor Fritz live streaming: When and where to watch Wimbledon QF tie in India? In the men's singles, B Sai Praneeth and Parupalli Kashyap moved to the second round with contrasting wins. While Praneeth hardly broke a sweat against Kevin Cordon, registering an easy 21-8 21-9 win over the Guatemalan in less than half an hour, Kashyap came back from a one-game deficit to dispatch local favourite Tommy Sugiarto 16-21 21-16 21-16. Praneeth will take on Li Shi Feng in the pre-quarterfinals. Also Read: All England Club asks players to spend daily food allowance wisely after coach bags 27 yogurts However, it was the end of the road for Sameer Verma, who went down fighting to fourth seed Chinese Taipei shuttler Chou Tien Chen 21-10 12-21 14-21. Later in the day, HS Prannoy and the women's doubles pair of N Sikki Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa will be in action.

Malaysia Masters 2022: PV Sindhu beats He Bing Jiao to move to second round, Saina Nehwal bows out

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu crashed out in the women's singles quarterfinals of the Malaysia Open Super 750 badminton after losing to nemesis Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in a hard-fought three-game contest here on Friday. Sindhu, seeded seventh, squandered a game lead to lose 13-21 21-15 21-13 to the second seed Tai Tzu, a silver medallist at the Tokyo Olympics.

By virtue of the win, the Chinese Taipei shuttler extended her domination over the Indian ace, leading 16-5 on head-to-head record. Sindhu has now lost six matches on the trot against Tai Tzu. Sindhu, playing against drift, made a slow start and trailed 2-5 in the opening game. But she soon got her act together and pocketed 11 points on the trot to go into the break leading 11-7.

The Chinese Taipei shuttler tried to make comeback into the contest by playing long rallies but Sindhu was upto the task to pocket the opening game. Sindhu started the second game brightly but her fancied rival dominated the proceedings after the early exchanges to lead 11-3 at the break.

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Tai Tzu continued in the same vein after the change of ends and extended her lead to 14-3 before Sindhu relied on her powerful smashes to reduce the deficit to 17-15. Tai Tzu, however, regrouped quickly and pocketed the next four points to draw level in the contest.

It was a close contest in the decider as both the shuttlers fought tooth and nail till 12 points before Tai Tzu put Sindhu under pressure with a mix of drop shots and smashes to clinch the third game and keep her title defence hopes alive. India's Thomas Cup star and world No. 21 HS Prannoy will take on world No. 8 Jonatan Christie in the men's singles quarterfinals later in the day.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu crashed out in the women's singles quarterfinals of the Malaysia Open Super 750 badminton after losing to nemesis Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in a hard-fought three-game contest here on Friday.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu crashed out in the women's singles quarterfinals of the Malaysia Open Super 750 badminton after losing to nemesis Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in a hard-fought three-game contest here on Friday. Sindhu, seeded seventh, squandered a game lead to lose 13-21 21-15 21-13 to the second seed Tai Tzu, a silver medallist at the Tokyo Olympics. By virtue of the win, the Chinese Taipei shuttler extended her domination over the Indian ace, leading 16-5 on head-to-head record. Sindhu has now lost six matches on the trot against Tai Tzu. Sindhu, playing against drift, made a slow start and trailed 2-5 in the opening game. But she soon got her act together and pocketed 11 points on the trot to go into the break leading 11-7. The Chinese Taipei shuttler tried to make comeback into the contest by playing long rallies but Sindhu was upto the task to pocket the opening game. Sindhu started the second game brightly but her fancied rival dominated the proceedings after the early exchanges to lead 11-3 at the break. ALSO READ | Russia set to open trial vs U.S. basketballer Brittney Griner Tai Tzu continued in the same vein after the change of ends and extended her lead to 14-3 before Sindhu relied on her powerful smashes to reduce the deficit to 17-15. Tai Tzu, however, regrouped quickly and pocketed the next four points to draw level in the contest. It was a close contest in the decider as both the shuttlers fought tooth and nail till 12 points before Tai Tzu put Sindhu under pressure with a mix of drop shots and smashes to clinch the third game and keep her title defence hopes alive. India's Thomas Cup star and world No. 21 HS Prannoy will take on world No. 8 Jonatan Christie in the men's singles quarterfinals later in the day.

PV Sindhu loses to arch-rival Tai Tzu Ying, exits Malaysia Open in quarter-finals

Star India shuttler PV Sindhu registered a stunning comeback win against Thailand`s Phittayaporn Chaiwan to reach the quarterfinals of the Malaysia Open tournament on Thursday. She pulled off a stunning win 19-21, 21-9, 21-14 to reach the quarterfinals. Playing on Court 1, Sindhu came through a tough test against Thailand`s Chaiwan in the match. Sindhu lost the first game 19-21.

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In the second game of the match, Sindhu made a brilliant comeback, winning 21-9 while totally dominating her opponent. The third game of the match saw the two-time Olympic medalist taking the lead and winning the game 21-14 to seal her spot in the quarterfinals. Sindhu will face second-seeded Tai Tzu-ying in the quarterfinal. Later, HS Prannoy pulled off a huge upset by beating World No. 4 Chinese Taipei player Chou Tien-chen in straight games, 21-15, 21-17 to enter the quarterfinals. As the day progresses, Parupalli Kashyap and the doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will also be eyeing a quarterfinal berth at the tournament.&nbsp;

Star India shuttler PV Sindhu registered a stunning comeback win against Thailand`s Phittayaporn Chaiwan to reach the quarterfinals of the Malaysia Open tournament on Thursday.

Star India shuttler PV Sindhu registered a stunning comeback win against Thailand`s Phittayaporn Chaiwan to reach the quarterfinals of the Malaysia Open tournament on Thursday. She pulled off a stunning win 19-21, 21-9, 21-14 to reach the quarterfinals. Playing on Court 1, Sindhu came through a tough test against Thailand`s Chaiwan in the match. Sindhu lost the first game 19-21. ALSO READ | Malaysia Open: PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy proceed ahead; Saina Nehwal out In the second game of the match, Sindhu made a brilliant comeback, winning 21-9 while totally dominating her opponent. The third game of the match saw the two-time Olympic medalist taking the lead and winning the game 21-14 to seal her spot in the quarterfinals. Sindhu will face second-seeded Tai Tzu-ying in the quarterfinal. Later, HS Prannoy pulled off a huge upset by beating World No. 4 Chinese Taipei player Chou Tien-chen in straight games, 21-15, 21-17 to enter the quarterfinals. As the day progresses, Parupalli Kashyap and the doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will also be eyeing a quarterfinal berth at the tournament.

Malaysia Open: PV Sindhu defeats Phittayaporn Chaiwan, HS Prannoy upsets World No. 4 Chou Tien-chen

Star India shuttler PV Sindhu produced a stunning win over Thailand`s world no. 10 Pornpawee Chochuwong to advance into the second round of the Malaysia Open tournament on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur. Playing on Court 2, Sindhu came through a tough test against Thailand`s Pornpawee Chochuwong in straight games. Seventh-seeded Sindhu dominated Chochuwong in both games 21-13, 21-17. The Indian got off to a great start in the first game and clinched the game with her swift moves. The second game of the match saw Chochuwong fighting back but could not hold Sindhu`s attacks longer and crashed out of the tournament.

India`s double pair B Sumeeth Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa, couldn`t get past the world no. 21 pairing of Robin Tabeling and Selena Piek of the Netherlands. The Indian duo went down by 15-21, 21-19 17-21 after a 52-minute battle. Meanwhile, it was a bad day for the 2012 London Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal, who suffered a defeat against American Iris Wang 11-21, 17-21 in 37 minutes. Earlier, India's HS Prannoy started off his Malaysia Open 2022 campaign with a win over the Malaysian Liew Daren in the first round. Playing in court 1, the Indian won his match by margin of 21-14, 17-21, 21-18. Prannoy got off a good start, winning the first game. His Malaysian counterpart bounced back to win the second game, but Prannoy won the closely contested last game by 21-18 to seal the match.&nbsp;

Star India shuttler PV Sindhu produced a stunning win over Thailand`s world no. 10 Pornpawee Chochuwong to advance into the second round of the Malaysia Open tournament on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur.

Star India shuttler PV Sindhu produced a stunning win over Thailand`s world no. 10 Pornpawee Chochuwong to advance into the second round of the Malaysia Open tournament on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur. Playing on Court 2, Sindhu came through a tough test against Thailand`s Pornpawee Chochuwong in straight games. Seventh-seeded Sindhu dominated Chochuwong in both games 21-13, 21-17. The Indian got off to a great start in the first game and clinched the game with her swift moves. The second game of the match saw Chochuwong fighting back but could not hold Sindhu`s attacks longer and crashed out of the tournament. India`s double pair B Sumeeth Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa, couldn`t get past the world no. 21 pairing of Robin Tabeling and Selena Piek of the Netherlands. The Indian duo went down by 15-21, 21-19 17-21 after a 52-minute battle. Meanwhile, it was a bad day for the 2012 London Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal, who suffered a defeat against American Iris Wang 11-21, 17-21 in 37 minutes. Earlier, India's HS Prannoy started off his Malaysia Open 2022 campaign with a win over the Malaysian Liew Daren in the first round. Playing in court 1, the Indian won his match by margin of 21-14, 17-21, 21-18. Prannoy got off a good start, winning the first game. His Malaysian counterpart bounced back to win the second game, but Prannoy won the closely contested last game by 21-18 to seal the match.

Malaysia Open: PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy proceed ahead; Saina Nehwal out

One of the heroes of India's epic Thomas Cup triumph, HS Prannoy continued his rich vein of form as he stormed into the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament with a straight-game win over Hong Kong's Ng Ka Long Angus here on Thursday. The 29-year-old from Kerala, who is desperately looking to break his five-year title drought, dished out another impressive performance to outwit Ng Long 21-11 21-18 in a second round match that lasted 41 minutes.

It was Prannoy's fourth win over the 27-year-old, who is currently ranked 12th in the world. A former top 10 player, Prannoy will next face either Denmark's Rasmus Gemke or France's Brice Leverdez. 
Among other Indians in the fray, Sameer Verma ended his campaign with a 10-21 13-21 loss to world number five Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia in the second round.

This was Sameer's fifth loss to Lee in seven meetings. Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy also bowed out of the tournament after losing 16-21 13-21 to top seeds Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan of China in women's doubles competition.

The men's doubles pairing of MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila also went down 19-21 15-21 to China's Liu Yu Chen and Ou Xuan Yi. In the men's singles contest, it was all Prannoy in the first half of the opening game as he simply dominated the proceedings, grabbing the initiative early to lead 11-3 with a sensational cross court jump smash.

Prannoy was, however, erratic after the interval and his unforced errors allowed Ng Long to collect a few points before the Indian unleashed another cross court smash and made some sound judgements at the baseline to keep moving ahead. Prannoy's movement was smooth as he mixed up the shots and varied the speed well and with his opponent committing errors, he had no issues in closing out the match comfortably. 
He moved to nine game point opportunities with a precise smash and sealed it when his rival went to net. 
Former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist RMV Gurusaidutt's presence at the coach's chair also helped Prannoy as he was seen chatting with the player during the mid-game interval. Gurusaidutt is on his first assignment with the Indian team after retiring from the game.

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Ng Long gave a better display in the second game as his movements improved and he managed to stay on the rallies but Prannoy did well to keep his nose ahead at 9-7 with a return on his opponent's back hand corner.

He had a two-point cushion at the mid-game interval after the Hong Kong player went wide again. 
The Indian extended his lead to 16-11. Ng Long produced occasional winners but he was too erratic, while Prannoy unleashed another jump smash to again wriggle out.

In the end, a precise return on the baseline gave Prannoy four match points. He squandered two before converting the third chance with a booming smash following a superb rally.

One of the heroes of India's epic Thomas Cup triumph, HS Prannoy continued his rich vein of form as he stormed into the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament with a straight-game win over Hong Kong's Ng Ka Long Angus here on Thursday.

One of the heroes of India's epic Thomas Cup triumph, HS Prannoy continued his rich vein of form as he stormed into the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament with a straight-game win over Hong Kong's Ng Ka Long Angus here on Thursday. The 29-year-old from Kerala, who is desperately looking to break his five-year title drought, dished out another impressive performance to outwit Ng Long 21-11 21-18 in a second round match that lasted 41 minutes. It was Prannoy's fourth win over the 27-year-old, who is currently ranked 12th in the world. A former top 10 player, Prannoy will next face either Denmark's Rasmus Gemke or France's Brice Leverdez. Among other Indians in the fray, Sameer Verma ended his campaign with a 10-21 13-21 loss to world number five Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia in the second round. This was Sameer's fifth loss to Lee in seven meetings. Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy also bowed out of the tournament after losing 16-21 13-21 to top seeds Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan of China in women's doubles competition. The men's doubles pairing of MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila also went down 19-21 15-21 to China's Liu Yu Chen and Ou Xuan Yi. In the men's singles contest, it was all Prannoy in the first half of the opening game as he simply dominated the proceedings, grabbing the initiative early to lead 11-3 with a sensational cross court jump smash. Prannoy was, however, erratic after the interval and his unforced errors allowed Ng Long to collect a few points before the Indian unleashed another cross court smash and made some sound judgements at the baseline to keep moving ahead. Prannoy's movement was smooth as he mixed up the shots and varied the speed well and with his opponent committing errors, he had no issues in closing out the match comfortably. He moved to nine game point opportunities with a precise smash and sealed it when his rival went to net. Former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist RMV Gurusaidutt's presence at the coach's chair also helped Prannoy as he was seen chatting with the player during the mid-game interval. Gurusaidutt is on his first assignment with the Indian team after retiring from the game. ALSO READ | Indonesia Open: Lakshya Sen loses to HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth also bows out in R1 Ng Long gave a better display in the second game as his movements improved and he managed to stay on the rallies but Prannoy did well to keep his nose ahead at 9-7 with a return on his opponent's back hand corner. He had a two-point cushion at the mid-game interval after the Hong Kong player went wide again. The Indian extended his lead to 16-11. Ng Long produced occasional winners but he was too erratic, while Prannoy unleashed another jump smash to again wriggle out. In the end, a precise return on the baseline gave Prannoy four match points. He squandered two before converting the third chance with a booming smash following a superb rally.

Indonesia Open: HS Prannoy storms into QFs; Sameer Verma, Ashwini Ponnappa-N Sikki Reddy bow out

India's Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth crashed out in the opening round of the Indonesia Open badminton tournament after losing in straight games, here on Wednesday. While world no. 8 Sen lost to compatriot H S Prannoy 10-21 9-21 in an all-India first round clash, world no. 11 Srikanth, who was making a comeback after nearly a month, was stunned by 41st ranked Brice Leverdez of France 21-23 10-21. 
This is Srikanth's first loss against the 36-year-old Frenchman in their six meetings.

Sen, who is in red hot form, clinched his first-ever Super 500 title this year. The 20-year-old reached the finals of the prestigious All England Championships and was also part of the Indian men's team that lifted the historic Thomas Cup crown. Interestingly, this was Prannoy's first-ever win against Sen out of their three head-to-head meetings so far.

In the doubles action, the duo of M R Arjun and Dhruv Kapila opened their account with a win, getting the better of higher ranked Japanese pair of Kelichiro Matsui and Yoshinori Takeuchi 27-25 18-25 21-19. 
However, it was curtains for the women's duo of Ashwini Bhat and Shikha Gautam, losing 9-21 10-21 to China's Zhang Shu Xian and Zheng Yu in just 28 minutes.

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The campaign also ended for another women's pairing of Haritha M Harinarayan and Ashna Noy as the duo also suffered straight-game defeat against South Korea's Jeong Na Eun and Kim Hye Jeong. 
In the Sen versus Prannoy game, the former was in no match in front of over-aggressive Prannoy, who despite trailing 3-6 at one point, made a strong comeback, courtesy some good shots.

The 29-year-old eventually extended his lead to 21-10 and pocketed the first game easily. 
In the second game, Prannoy continued from where he left off and took a massive 11-3 lead. 
Trailing, Sen was expected to make a comeback, but Prannoy's unplayable cross-court smashes made it a difficult affair for the former.&nbsp;

India's Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth crashed out in the opening round of the Indonesia Open badminton tournament after losing in straight games, here on Wednesday.

India's Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth crashed out in the opening round of the Indonesia Open badminton tournament after losing in straight games, here on Wednesday. While world no. 8 Sen lost to compatriot H S Prannoy 10-21 9-21 in an all-India first round clash, world no. 11 Srikanth, who was making a comeback after nearly a month, was stunned by 41st ranked Brice Leverdez of France 21-23 10-21. This is Srikanth's first loss against the 36-year-old Frenchman in their six meetings. Sen, who is in red hot form, clinched his first-ever Super 500 title this year. The 20-year-old reached the finals of the prestigious All England Championships and was also part of the Indian men's team that lifted the historic Thomas Cup crown. Interestingly, this was Prannoy's first-ever win against Sen out of their three head-to-head meetings so far. In the doubles action, the duo of M R Arjun and Dhruv Kapila opened their account with a win, getting the better of higher ranked Japanese pair of Kelichiro Matsui and Yoshinori Takeuchi 27-25 18-25 21-19. However, it was curtains for the women's duo of Ashwini Bhat and Shikha Gautam, losing 9-21 10-21 to China's Zhang Shu Xian and Zheng Yu in just 28 minutes. ALSO READ | Indonesia Open 2022: PV Sindhu crashes out of competition after R1 defeat vs China's He Bing Jiao The campaign also ended for another women's pairing of Haritha M Harinarayan and Ashna Noy as the duo also suffered straight-game defeat against South Korea's Jeong Na Eun and Kim Hye Jeong. In the Sen versus Prannoy game, the former was in no match in front of over-aggressive Prannoy, who despite trailing 3-6 at one point, made a strong comeback, courtesy some good shots. The 29-year-old eventually extended his lead to 21-10 and pocketed the first game easily. In the second game, Prannoy continued from where he left off and took a massive 11-3 lead. Trailing, Sen was expected to make a comeback, but Prannoy's unplayable cross-court smashes made it a difficult affair for the former.

Indonesia Open: Lakshya Sen loses to HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth also bows out in R1

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu crashed out of the ongoing Indonesia Open 2022 after suffering a loss to China`s He Bing Jiao in the first round of the women`s singles category in Jakarta on Tuesday. Playing in court 1, Sindhu suffered a defeat to Bing Jiao by a margin of 21-14, 21-18. Jiao was extremely dominant in both the games, winning them both to seal the match. On the other hand at court 1, the Indian duo of Ashwini Ponnappa and Reddy N. Sikki won against the India-American duo of Srivedya Gurazada and Ishika Jaiswal in the first round of the women`s doubles category.

Ponnappa and Sikki dominated the match, winning it within two games by a margin of 21-15, 21-8. In court 2, the Indian duo of Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto lost to the duo of Chang Tak Ching and NG Wing Yung from Hong Kong in the first round of the mixed doubles category. The Indian duo lost the game by a margin of 21-14, 21-11 as their opponents dominated the match and won it within just two games.

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Also, in court 3, India`s B. Sai Praneeth lost to Denmark`s Hans-Kristian Vittinghus in the first round of the men`s singles category. The Danish player completely dominated Praneeth, winning the game within just two games by margin of 21-16, 21-19. The second game was closely contested. The Indian duo of Attri Manu and B. Sumeeth Reddy also disappointed as they lost to the Japanese duo of Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi in the first round of men`s doubles category. Playing at the court 3, the Indian duo lost to their opposition by a margin of 21-8, 21-11. Hoki and Kobayashi dominated both the games. Tomorrow, Prannoy H.S, Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth will kick off their Indonesia Open 2022 campaigns.

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu crashed out of the ongoing Indonesia Open 2022 after suffering a loss to China`s He Bing Jiao in the first round of the women`s singles category in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu crashed out of the ongoing Indonesia Open 2022 after suffering a loss to China`s He Bing Jiao in the first round of the women`s singles category in Jakarta on Tuesday. Playing in court 1, Sindhu suffered a defeat to Bing Jiao by a margin of 21-14, 21-18. Jiao was extremely dominant in both the games, winning them both to seal the match. On the other hand at court 1, the Indian duo of Ashwini Ponnappa and Reddy N. Sikki won against the India-American duo of Srivedya Gurazada and Ishika Jaiswal in the first round of the women`s doubles category. Ponnappa and Sikki dominated the match, winning it within two games by a margin of 21-15, 21-8. In court 2, the Indian duo of Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto lost to the duo of Chang Tak Ching and NG Wing Yung from Hong Kong in the first round of the mixed doubles category. The Indian duo lost the game by a margin of 21-14, 21-11 as their opponents dominated the match and won it within just two games. ALSO READ | Serena Williams confirms her return at Wimbledon 2022, a year after superstar's last match Also, in court 3, India`s B. Sai Praneeth lost to Denmark`s Hans-Kristian Vittinghus in the first round of the men`s singles category. The Danish player completely dominated Praneeth, winning the game within just two games by margin of 21-16, 21-19. The second game was closely contested. The Indian duo of Attri Manu and B. Sumeeth Reddy also disappointed as they lost to the Japanese duo of Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi in the first round of men`s doubles category. Playing at the court 3, the Indian duo lost to their opposition by a margin of 21-8, 21-11. Hoki and Kobayashi dominated both the games. Tomorrow, Prannoy H.S, Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth will kick off their Indonesia Open 2022 campaigns.

Indonesia Open 2022: PV Sindhu crashes out of competition after R1 defeat vs China's He Bing Jiao

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and rising star Lakshya Sen made quarterfinal exits in their respective singles events, ending India's challenge in the Indonesia Open Super Series 500 tournament here on Friday.

Sen was first to be eliminated as the 20-year-old went down fighting and forced a decider against his higher-seeded Chinese Taipei rival Chou Tien Chen 21-16 12-21 21-14. India's last hope then rested on Sindhu but the former world champion went down without a fight to her old foe Ratchanok Intanon 12-21, 10-21 in a match lasting a little over half an hour.

The 27-year-old was at her dominating best and looked at ease with both in attacks and defence and the Indian was never able to fightback and suffered her fifth straight loss against her Thai rival.

After pocketing the first game easily, Intanon looked even more furious in the second and raced to a 10-point lead before sealing the issue in 33 minutes to improve her head-to-head against Sindhu to 9-4.

Sindhu, who made a semifinal exit in the Thailand Open last month, had earned a hard-fought victory over Gregoria Mariska Tunjung to enter the quarterfinals.

Earlier, World Championships bronze medalist Sen bounced back from behind to level the second game but the third-seed from Chinese Taipei was superior in the decider with a 21-16 12-21 21-14 scoreline in his favour.

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This was Sen's second straight defeat against Chou in less than a month. Sen lost to his Chinese Taipei rival 19-21 21-13 17-21 during the group stage of the Thomas Cup, before turning it around to script a historic triumph.

The 2018 Asian Games silver medallist, who had defeated the Indian in the group stage of the Thomas Cup in their only previous meeting, put up a power-packed show in the decider and mounted early pressure on the 20-year-old.

The world No. 4 from Chinese Taipei annexed three points in a row to build a six-point lead midway into the decider.

Sen was engaged in some superb rallies towards the end and even saved two match points but his valiant effort was not good enough as the experienced 32-year-old maintained his lead to make it a 2-0 in head-to-head against the Indian.

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and rising star Lakshya Sen made quarterfinal exits in their respective singles events, ending India's challenge in the Indonesia Open Super Series 500 tournament here on Friday.

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and rising star Lakshya Sen made quarterfinal exits in their respective singles events, ending India's challenge in the Indonesia Open Super Series 500 tournament here on Friday. Sen was first to be eliminated as the 20-year-old went down fighting and forced a decider against his higher-seeded Chinese Taipei rival Chou Tien Chen 21-16 12-21 21-14. India's last hope then rested on Sindhu but the former world champion went down without a fight to her old foe Ratchanok Intanon 12-21, 10-21 in a match lasting a little over half an hour. The 27-year-old was at her dominating best and looked at ease with both in attacks and defence and the Indian was never able to fightback and suffered her fifth straight loss against her Thai rival. After pocketing the first game easily, Intanon looked even more furious in the second and raced to a 10-point lead before sealing the issue in 33 minutes to improve her head-to-head against Sindhu to 9-4. Sindhu, who made a semifinal exit in the Thailand Open last month, had earned a hard-fought victory over Gregoria Mariska Tunjung to enter the quarterfinals. Earlier, World Championships bronze medalist Sen bounced back from behind to level the second game but the third-seed from Chinese Taipei was superior in the decider with a 21-16 12-21 21-14 scoreline in his favour. ALSO READ | Indonesia Masters: PV Sindhu reaches QFs, beats Gregoria Mariska Tungjung in gruelling tie This was Sen's second straight defeat against Chou in less than a month. Sen lost to his Chinese Taipei rival 19-21 21-13 17-21 during the group stage of the Thomas Cup, before turning it around to script a historic triumph. The 2018 Asian Games silver medallist, who had defeated the Indian in the group stage of the Thomas Cup in their only previous meeting, put up a power-packed show in the decider and mounted early pressure on the 20-year-old. The world No. 4 from Chinese Taipei annexed three points in a row to build a six-point lead midway into the decider. Sen was engaged in some superb rallies towards the end and even saved two match points but his valiant effort was not good enough as the experienced 32-year-old maintained his lead to make it a 2-0 in head-to-head against the Indian.

Indian stars PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen eliminated from Indonesia Masters

World No. 9 Lakshya Sen stormed into the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Masters 2022 after defeating Denmark`s Rasmus Gemke in straight games in Jakarta on Thursday. Playing on Court 2 against Gemke, Sen did not have too much trouble, except in the opening set where the two players went toe-to-toe before Sen stepped up and took the first game by 21-18.

In the second game, Gemke took the lead at 11-10, playing fierce cross-court rallies before Sen once again recovered and moved forward to seize the match 21-18, 21-15, and march into the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Masters 2022. Later in the day, PV Sindhu will play against Gregoria Mariska Tungjung for a spot in the quarterfinals in the women`s singles. In the doubles, Ashwini Ponnappa-Sumeeth Reddy will take on second-seeds Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong of China for a place in the last eight.&nbsp;

World No. 9 Lakshya Sen stormed into the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Masters 2022 after defeating Denmark`s Rasmus Gemke in straight games in Jakarta on Thursday.

World No. 9 Lakshya Sen stormed into the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Masters 2022 after defeating Denmark`s Rasmus Gemke in straight games in Jakarta on Thursday. Playing on Court 2 against Gemke, Sen did not have too much trouble, except in the opening set where the two players went toe-to-toe before Sen stepped up and took the first game by 21-18. In the second game, Gemke took the lead at 11-10, playing fierce cross-court rallies before Sen once again recovered and moved forward to seize the match 21-18, 21-15, and march into the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Masters 2022. Later in the day, PV Sindhu will play against Gregoria Mariska Tungjung for a spot in the quarterfinals in the women`s singles. In the doubles, Ashwini Ponnappa-Sumeeth Reddy will take on second-seeds Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong of China for a place in the last eight.

Indonesia Masters: Lakshya Sen cruises into QFs after win over Rasmus Gemke in straight sets

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu progressed to the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Masters Super 500 badminton tournament on Thursday.&nbsp;

In the women's singles, Sindhu was made to toil hard for over an hour by Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia before winning 23-21 20-22 21-11 in the second round. Sen, seeded seventh, will next be pitted against Chinese Taipei's third seed Chou Tien Chen, who had defeated the Indian in a three-game thriller during the Thomas Cup last month in their only meeting.

A tough quarterfinal awaits fourth-seeded Sindhu as she will take on the winner of the match between Thailand's fifth seed Ratchanok Intanon and Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland. Against the unseeded Tunjung, Sindhu started on a bright note and played aggressively to surge to a 10-5 lead. She used her experience and reach to engage her opponents in long rallies initially.

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But the Indonesian, whom Sidhu had defeated six times earlier, made a remarkable fightback to claw her way back into the contest to level the scores at 15 apiece. From there on, it was a neck-and-neck fight between the two players as they traded points till 21 before Sindhu raised her level to pocket the first game. 
The second game was a complete contrast as it was Tunjung who started on an attacking note and raced to a 10-5 lead before Sindhu fought back to draw parity at 15-15.

Thereafter, the players continued their battle for points to 20 points before determining the Indonesian won the game to take the match into the decider. The decider, however, was a one-sided affair as after a few initial exchanges, to be precise till seven points, Sindhu didn't allow her opponent an inch and used her big-match experience to run away with the game and the match.

Earlier in the day playing Denmark's Rasmus Gemke for the first time in his international career, world number 9 Lakshya Sen showed better nerves as he limited his errors and fought his way to a fine win. Sen overturned a 0-3 deficit to a 9-6 advantage, only to allow Gemke to hold a slender 11-10 cushion at the break. However, the Indian came out all guns blazing and reeled off six straight points to move to 16-12 before sealing the opening game.

Sen and Gemke breathed down each other's neck for the most part of the second game as the lead exchanged hands frequently before the Indian once again stepped ahead from 13-12 to close out the issue with a four-point burst.

Sindhu will face Indonesia's Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, while the mixed doubles pairing of Ashwini Ponnappa and B Sumeeth Reddy will take on second seeds Chinese Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong later in the day.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu progressed to the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Masters Super 500 badminton tournament on Thursday. In the women's singles, Sindhu was made to toil hard for over an hour by Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia before winning 23-21 20-22 21-11 in the second round.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu progressed to the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Masters Super 500 badminton tournament on Thursday. In the women's singles, Sindhu was made to toil hard for over an hour by Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia before winning 23-21 20-22 21-11 in the second round. Sen, seeded seventh, will next be pitted against Chinese Taipei's third seed Chou Tien Chen, who had defeated the Indian in a three-game thriller during the Thomas Cup last month in their only meeting. A tough quarterfinal awaits fourth-seeded Sindhu as she will take on the winner of the match between Thailand's fifth seed Ratchanok Intanon and Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland. Against the unseeded Tunjung, Sindhu started on a bright note and played aggressively to surge to a 10-5 lead. She used her experience and reach to engage her opponents in long rallies initially. ALSO READ | Indonesia Masters: Lakshya Sen cruises into QFs after win over Rasmus Gemke in straight sets But the Indonesian, whom Sidhu had defeated six times earlier, made a remarkable fightback to claw her way back into the contest to level the scores at 15 apiece. From there on, it was a neck-and-neck fight between the two players as they traded points till 21 before Sindhu raised her level to pocket the first game. The second game was a complete contrast as it was Tunjung who started on an attacking note and raced to a 10-5 lead before Sindhu fought back to draw parity at 15-15. Thereafter, the players continued their battle for points to 20 points before determining the Indonesian won the game to take the match into the decider. The decider, however, was a one-sided affair as after a few initial exchanges, to be precise till seven points, Sindhu didn't allow her opponent an inch and used her big-match experience to run away with the game and the match. Earlier in the day playing Denmark's Rasmus Gemke for the first time in his international career, world number 9 Lakshya Sen showed better nerves as he limited his errors and fought his way to a fine win. Sen overturned a 0-3 deficit to a 9-6 advantage, only to allow Gemke to hold a slender 11-10 cushion at the break. However, the Indian came out all guns blazing and reeled off six straight points to move to 16-12 before sealing the opening game. Sen and Gemke breathed down each other's neck for the most part of the second game as the lead exchanged hands frequently before the Indian once again stepped ahead from 13-12 to close out the issue with a four-point burst. Sindhu will face Indonesia's Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, while the mixed doubles pairing of Ashwini Ponnappa and B Sumeeth Reddy will take on second seeds Chinese Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong later in the day.

Indonesia Masters: PV Sindhu reaches QFs, beats Gregoria Mariska Tungjung in gruelling tie

Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen`s proposal to train with World No. 1 Victor Axelson in Dubai was on Thursday approved by Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) Committee members. Lakshya, who was part of the Indian men`s team that won the prestigious Thomas Cup this month, is set to train With Axelson in Dubai from May 29-June 5 (8 days) and then head out to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on June 19th to train at the Malaysian Training Centre from June 19-26 (8 days). Both the training proposals were approved by MOC in preparation for the Commonwealth Games.

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The sanctioned amount will cover the cost of his and his physio`s air travel, boarding and lodging, and out-of-pocket allowance among other expenses. Alongside Lakshya`s proposal, the MOC Committee also cleared badminton player and Olympic Silver medallist PV Sindhu`s proposal for financial assistance towards her fitness trainer M Srikanth Madapalli to accompany her for multiple upcoming tournaments was also approved. 
 
Srikanth is set to accompany Sindhu during Indonesia Masters (June 7-12), Indonesia Open (June 14-19), Malaysia Masters (June 28 to July 3), Malaysia Open (July 5-10), and Singapore Open (July 12-17).

Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen`s proposal to train with World No. 1 Victor Axelson in Dubai was on Thursday approved by Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) Committee members.

Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen`s proposal to train with World No. 1 Victor Axelson in Dubai was on Thursday approved by Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) Committee members. Lakshya, who was part of the Indian men`s team that won the prestigious Thomas Cup this month, is set to train With Axelson in Dubai from May 29-June 5 (8 days) and then head out to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on June 19th to train at the Malaysian Training Centre from June 19-26 (8 days). Both the training proposals were approved by MOC in preparation for the Commonwealth Games. ALSO READ | Wimbledon set to remove 'Miss' and 'Mrs' from honours boards: Report The sanctioned amount will cover the cost of his and his physio`s air travel, boarding and lodging, and out-of-pocket allowance among other expenses. Alongside Lakshya`s proposal, the MOC Committee also cleared badminton player and Olympic Silver medallist PV Sindhu`s proposal for financial assistance towards her fitness trainer M Srikanth Madapalli to accompany her for multiple upcoming tournaments was also approved. Srikanth is set to accompany Sindhu during Indonesia Masters (June 7-12), Indonesia Open (June 14-19), Malaysia Masters (June 28 to July 3), Malaysia Open (July 5-10), and Singapore Open (July 12-17).

Lakshya Sen's proposal and PV Sindhu's special request cleared under TOPS

India badminton coach Pullela Gopichand lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for interacting with the Indian contingents for the Thomas and Uber Cup on Sunday. The Indian team scripted history on May 15 by winning the first-ever Thomas Cup crown since its inception in 1949.

"For the last eight years, I have seen PM Modi interacting with the players and he had been consistent with his words. Irrespective of whether players win a medal or not, PM Modi always encourages them by directly connecting with them. He follows the players and the sport," said Gopichand in a media interaction.

Meanwhile, former Denmark shuttler and India`s current men`s doubles coach, Mathias Boe also got overwhelmed by PM Modi's gesture.

"I`ve been a player and won medals but have never been called by my Prime Minister to congratulate, so it is something they will really cherish and will forever remember. great morality boost to come here and meet him personally, and it was a great experience for us. I am proud to be here as a part of the team," said Mathias Boe.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-dont-think-anyone-had-dreamt-of-india-beating-indonesia-3-0-in-thomas-cup-kidambi-srikanth-479815">Exclusive! Don't think anyone had dreamt of India beating Indonesia 3-0 in Thomas Cup: Kidambi Srikanth</a>

Earlier on May 15, PM Modi also had a telephonic conversation with the Indian team, immediately after they clinched the victory in the final of the Thomas Cup. No Indian team has previously reached the final of the Thomas and Uber Cup in its 70-plus year history.

Indian men reached the Thomas Cup semi-finals in 1952, 1955 and 1979 while the women`s team made it to the Uber Cup top-four in 2014 and 2016.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-thomas-cup-triumph-one-of-the-biggest-ever-wins-for-indian-badminton-pullela-gopichand-480109">Exclusive! Thomas Cup triumph one of the biggest ever wins for Indian badminton: Pullela Gopichand</a>

The Indian team, featuring Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty and others, have given a good account of themselves at this year`s tournament.

India badminton coach Pullela Gopichand lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for interacting with the Indian contingents for the Thomas and Uber Cup on Sunday. The Indian team scripted history on May 15 by winning the first-ever Thomas Cup crown since its inception in 1949.

India badminton coach Pullela Gopichand lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for interacting with the Indian contingents for the Thomas and Uber Cup on Sunday. The Indian team scripted history on May 15 by winning the first-ever Thomas Cup crown since its inception in 1949. "For the last eight years, I have seen PM Modi interacting with the players and he had been consistent with his words. Irrespective of whether players win a medal or not, PM Modi always encourages them by directly connecting with them. He follows the players and the sport," said Gopichand in a media interaction. Meanwhile, former Denmark shuttler and India`s current men`s doubles coach, Mathias Boe also got overwhelmed by PM Modi's gesture. "I`ve been a player and won medals but have never been called by my Prime Minister to congratulate, so it is something they will really cherish and will forever remember. great morality boost to come here and meet him personally, and it was a great experience for us. I am proud to be here as a part of the team," said Mathias Boe. Also Read: Exclusive! Don't think anyone had dreamt of India beating Indonesia 3-0 in Thomas Cup: Kidambi Srikanth Earlier on May 15, PM Modi also had a telephonic conversation with the Indian team, immediately after they clinched the victory in the final of the Thomas Cup. No Indian team has previously reached the final of the Thomas and Uber Cup in its 70-plus year history. Indian men reached the Thomas Cup semi-finals in 1952, 1955 and 1979 while the women`s team made it to the Uber Cup top-four in 2014 and 2016. Also Read: Exclusive! Thomas Cup triumph one of the biggest ever wins for Indian badminton: Pullela Gopichand The Indian team, featuring Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty and others, have given a good account of themselves at this year`s tournament.

Pullela Gopichand lauds PM Modi's efforts of interacting with Indian shuttlers regularly

Star India shuttler P V Sindhu made an exit from Thailand Open after going down in straight games to Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei in the semifinals here on Saturday. Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, lost 17-21 16-21 to third-seeded Chen in 43 minutes to end an impressive run in the Super 500 tournament.

Sindhu, seeded sixth, enjoyed a 6-4 head-to-head count coming into the match but she was not at her usual self against the Chinese, who dished out an aggressive badminton to come up trumps against the Indian.

The 26-year-old from Hyderabad had lost to Chen the last time they faced off at the 2019 BWF World Tour Finals. 
After an initial 3-3 battle, Sindhu was lagging 7-11 at the interval in the first game.

Things didn't change much as Chen continued to dominate the rallies and eventually held five game points. 
Sinhu saved two before handing the opening game to her Chinese rival.

The world number 7 Indian produced a better show in the second game, leading 6-3 before moving into the break with a narrow two-point cushion.

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But the Chinese world number 4 soon tightened her game and turned the tables, moving to a 15-12 advantage. Sindhu couldn't stop the run of the play as Chen eventually grabbed four match points and converted it comfortably.

Sindhu, who has won two Super 300 titles this season at the Syed Modi International and Swiss Open, will next compete at the Indonesia Masters Super 500 scheduled to be held in Jakarta from June 7 to 12.

Star India shuttler P V Sindhu made an exit from Thailand Open after going down in straight games to Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei in the semifinals here on Saturday.

Star India shuttler P V Sindhu made an exit from Thailand Open after going down in straight games to Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei in the semifinals here on Saturday. Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, lost 17-21 16-21 to third-seeded Chen in 43 minutes to end an impressive run in the Super 500 tournament. Sindhu, seeded sixth, enjoyed a 6-4 head-to-head count coming into the match but she was not at her usual self against the Chinese, who dished out an aggressive badminton to come up trumps against the Indian. The 26-year-old from Hyderabad had lost to Chen the last time they faced off at the 2019 BWF World Tour Finals. After an initial 3-3 battle, Sindhu was lagging 7-11 at the interval in the first game. Things didn't change much as Chen continued to dominate the rallies and eventually held five game points. Sinhu saved two before handing the opening game to her Chinese rival. The world number 7 Indian produced a better show in the second game, leading 6-3 before moving into the break with a narrow two-point cushion. Also Read: PM Modi lauds Nikhat Zareen for 'fantastic' gold medal win at Women's World Boxing C'ships But the Chinese world number 4 soon tightened her game and turned the tables, moving to a 15-12 advantage. Sindhu couldn't stop the run of the play as Chen eventually grabbed four match points and converted it comfortably. Sindhu, who has won two Super 300 titles this season at the Syed Modi International and Swiss Open, will next compete at the Indonesia Masters Super 500 scheduled to be held in Jakarta from June 7 to 12.

PV Sindhu crashes out of Thailand Open after losing against Chen Yu Fei in semifinals

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu advanced to the women`s singles semi-finals of the Thailand Open 2022 by knocking out world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, here on Friday. Sindhu, a former world champion, defeated the world No 1 Japanese shuttler 21-15, 20-22, 21-13 in the quarterfinals of the BWF Super 500 event at the Impact Arena. 
 
In the first game, Sindhu and Yamaguchi matched the energy and were levelled at 14-all. The Indian ace won the next five points and went on to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Sindhu continued the fast-paced approach and raced to an 11-5 lead in the second game break. However, the Indian shuttler, who had lost to Yamaguchi in the semi-finals of the Badminton Asia championships last month from a similar position, ran out of steam and conceded the game.

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Wary of another comeback from the world champion, Sindhu upped the ante in the decider and went on to win the match convincingly. With this victory, Sindhu extended her head-to-head record over Akane Yamaguchi to 14-9. World No 7 Sindhu will take on world No 4 and Tokyo 2020 champion Chen Yu Fei of China in the semi-finals on Saturday. 
 
Notably, Sindhu is the only Indian shuttler still in the running at the Thailand Open. Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy crashed out from the earlier rounds while Kidambi Srikanth pulled out at the round of 16 stage.

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu advanced to the women`s singles semi-finals of the Thailand Open 2022 by knocking out world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, here on Friday.

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu advanced to the women`s singles semi-finals of the Thailand Open 2022 by knocking out world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, here on Friday. Sindhu, a former world champion, defeated the world No 1 Japanese shuttler 21-15, 20-22, 21-13 in the quarterfinals of the BWF Super 500 event at the Impact Arena. In the first game, Sindhu and Yamaguchi matched the energy and were levelled at 14-all. The Indian ace won the next five points and went on to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Sindhu continued the fast-paced approach and raced to an 11-5 lead in the second game break. However, the Indian shuttler, who had lost to Yamaguchi in the semi-finals of the Badminton Asia championships last month from a similar position, ran out of steam and conceded the game. ALSO READ | Thailand Open: PV Sindhu beats South Korea's Yu Jin Sim to set up QF clash with Akane Yamaguchi Wary of another comeback from the world champion, Sindhu upped the ante in the decider and went on to win the match convincingly. With this victory, Sindhu extended her head-to-head record over Akane Yamaguchi to 14-9. World No 7 Sindhu will take on world No 4 and Tokyo 2020 champion Chen Yu Fei of China in the semi-finals on Saturday. Notably, Sindhu is the only Indian shuttler still in the running at the Thailand Open. Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy crashed out from the earlier rounds while Kidambi Srikanth pulled out at the round of 16 stage.

Thailand Open: Indian star PV Sindhu reaches semi-finals with win over No. 1 ranked Akane Yamaguchi

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu beats Yu Jin Sim of South Korea in straight games in the second round match of the Thailand Open in the women`s singles category here in Bangkok on Thursday. The sixth seed Sindhu won the opening game 21-16 where the Korean did put fight but in the second game Sindhu dominated and won by a comfortable margin of 21-13 winning match 21-16 21-13 that lasted for 37 minutes.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/thailand-open-2022-pv-sindhu-kidambi-srikanth-get-off-to-winning-starts-saina-nehwal-crashes-out-480165">Thailand Open 2022: PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth get off to winning starts, Saina Nehwal crashes out</a>

With this win the double Olympic medallist sets up a quarterfinal clash with second-seeded Japanese shuttler Akane Yamaguchi. Earlier in the day Indian shuttler Malvika Bansod crashed out losing to Denmark`s Line Christophersen in the second round of the women`s singles category losing 16-21, 21-14, 21-14.

On the other hand, one of India's Thomas Cup heroes&nbsp;Kidambi Srikanth exited from the BWF World Tour Super 500 event,&nbsp;handing a walkover to his opponent,&nbsp;Irish rival Nhat Nguyen, in the men's singles second round.&nbsp;The reason for his walk over is unknown.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu beats Yu Jin Sim of South Korea in straight games in the second round match of the Thailand Open in the women`s singles category here in Bangkok on Thursday.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu beats Yu Jin Sim of South Korea in straight games in the second round match of the Thailand Open in the women`s singles category here in Bangkok on Thursday. The sixth seed Sindhu won the opening game 21-16 where the Korean did put fight but in the second game Sindhu dominated and won by a comfortable margin of 21-13 winning match 21-16 21-13 that lasted for 37 minutes. ALSO READ | Thailand Open 2022: PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth get off to winning starts, Saina Nehwal crashes out With this win the double Olympic medallist sets up a quarterfinal clash with second-seeded Japanese shuttler Akane Yamaguchi. Earlier in the day Indian shuttler Malvika Bansod crashed out losing to Denmark`s Line Christophersen in the second round of the women`s singles category losing 16-21, 21-14, 21-14. On the other hand, one of India's Thomas Cup heroes Kidambi Srikanth exited from the BWF World Tour Super 500 event, handing a walkover to his opponent, Irish rival Nhat Nguyen, in the men's singles second round. The reason for his walk over is unknown.

Thailand Open: PV Sindhu beats South Korea's Yu Jin Sim to set up QF clash with Akane Yamaguchi

India`s star shuttler PV Sindhu started her Thailand Open 2022 campaign with a win over USA`s Lauren Lam in the women`s singles category here in Bangkok on Wednesday.

Playing in court 3, Sindhu won the match by 21-19, 19-21, 21-18. The two-time Olympic medalist won the first game in a tough fight, winning it by 21-19. However, her American opponent bounced back in the next game, winning it by 21-19 to force the decider.

In the final game, the Indian showed a remarkable display of skill and clinched the match 21-18. The match lasted 59 minutes. Meanwhile, in the men`s singles playing in court 4, India`s ace shuttler HS Prannoy suffered a defeat against Malaysia`s Liew Daren 17-21 in the first game of the match.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-thomas-cup-triumph-one-of-the-biggest-ever-wins-for-indian-badminton-pullela-gopichand-480109">Exclusive! Thomas Cup triumph one of the biggest ever wins for Indian badminton: Pullela Gopichand</a>

The second game of the match saw HS Prannoy prevailing over Daren by 21-15 in a one-sided clash to force the decider. However, in the last game, Malaysian completely dominated Prannoy to seal the match with a 21-15 win.

Earlier in the day, Indian shuttlers Malvika Bansod and Kidambi Srikanth started their Thailand Open 2022 campaign with brilliant wins. While star shuttler Saina Nehwal crashed out after losing to South Korea`s Kim Ga Eun in the women`s singles first-round match.

India`s star shuttler PV Sindhu started her Thailand Open 2022 campaign with a win over USA`s Lauren Lam in the women`s singles category here in Bangkok on Wednesday.

India`s star shuttler PV Sindhu started her Thailand Open 2022 campaign with a win over USA`s Lauren Lam in the women`s singles category here in Bangkok on Wednesday. Playing in court 3, Sindhu won the match by 21-19, 19-21, 21-18. The two-time Olympic medalist won the first game in a tough fight, winning it by 21-19. However, her American opponent bounced back in the next game, winning it by 21-19 to force the decider. In the final game, the Indian showed a remarkable display of skill and clinched the match 21-18. The match lasted 59 minutes. Meanwhile, in the men`s singles playing in court 4, India`s ace shuttler HS Prannoy suffered a defeat against Malaysia`s Liew Daren 17-21 in the first game of the match. Also Read: Exclusive! Thomas Cup triumph one of the biggest ever wins for Indian badminton: Pullela Gopichand The second game of the match saw HS Prannoy prevailing over Daren by 21-15 in a one-sided clash to force the decider. However, in the last game, Malaysian completely dominated Prannoy to seal the match with a 21-15 win. Earlier in the day, Indian shuttlers Malvika Bansod and Kidambi Srikanth started their Thailand Open 2022 campaign with brilliant wins. While star shuttler Saina Nehwal crashed out after losing to South Korea`s Kim Ga Eun in the women`s singles first-round match.

Thailand Open 2022: PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth get off to winning starts, Saina Nehwal crashes out

Indian men's badminton team scripted history in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday (May 15) as they went on to lift their maiden Thomas Cup title after stunning 14-time champions Indonesia 3-0 in the final. It was a dominant performance from India in the all-important summit clash as they wrapped up the final winning three matches on the trot.

India won their first-ever Thomas Cup title in the 73-year-long history of the tournament. Lakshya Sen and Kidamb Srikanth won their respective singles matches while the doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won their doubles match to propel India to a historic triumph.

In an exclusive interaction with WION, Indian badminton great Pullela Gopichand labelled the historic win as the biggest ever in the history of Indian badminton. Gopichand, who is the last Indian to have won the prestigious All England Championships and is currently India's chief national badminton coach, said the only thing that could better the Indian men's team's Thomas Cup win was if both the men's and women's team won gold medals at the coveted tournament.

"Every time I think of the sport, I think this is the best it can happen and every time we have surpassed those expectations. But I think this is really one of the biggest ever wins,"&nbsp;Gopichand told WION in an exclusive interview.

"The only that can probably beat it is if you can win both the men's and women's medals together. This is huge, this is as big as it gets in terms of team championships at the highest level," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-dont-think-anyone-had-dreamt-of-india-beating-indonesia-3-0-in-thomas-cup-kidambi-srikanth-479815">Exclusive! Don't think anyone had dreamt of India beating Indonesia 3-0 in Thomas Cup: Kidambi Srikanth</a>

Gopichand, one of the most dedicated coaches in the Indian badminton circuit, is often credited to have nurtured the current crop of stars in Indian badminton. He has been running the Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad which has produced a number of top shuttlers including the likes of Srikanth and PV Sindhu among others.

A few years ago, it was a distant dream for Indian badminton to compete against the likes of Indonesia, Malaysia and Denmark, who are powerhouses in the sport. However, the Indian team defeated all three countries on their way to a historic win at the Thomas Cup 2022 this year.

Explaining the reason behind India's exceptional performance at the Thomas Cup this year, Gopichand said the senior players in the side had personal pride at stake and had a lot to prove to their critics. He also lauded the team members for complimenting each other well throughout their campaign.

"I think it's a combination of things. We can call it a team championship but still each one goes out there and, plays their own match, comes out and turns out it adds to the squad unlike hockey, football or cricket.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-created-a-whatsapp-group-titled-well-bring-it-home-kidambi-srikanth-after-india-win-thomas-cup-479355">We created a WhatsApp group titled ‘We’ll Bring It Home': Kidambi Srikanth after India win Thomas Cup</a>

But I think what is important is that these players have peaked at the right time. They are playing their best badminton at the right time. Also, each one had their personal pride at stake, they were competing against each other but were also complementing each other," said Gopichand.

Gopichand also detailed how the likes of Srikanth and HS Prannoy have proved the naysayers wrong while calling the young Lakshya Sen the rising star of Indian badminton. Sen had gotten the better of Toy Olympics bronze medallist Anthony Ginting in the Thomas Cup final while Srikanth defeated Jonathan Christie in straight sets.

The doubles pair of Satwik and Chirag arguably had the toughest tie in the final as they were up against the talented and experienced duo of&nbsp;Mohammad Ahsan and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo. After losing the first game 21-18 against the Indonesia pair, Satwik and Chirag staged a comeback for the ages.

The Indian pair clinched the second game 23-21 before taking the final game 21-19. Gopichand said almost each of the senior players in the squad had headed into the tournament with a point to prove and they fought like a team to make history by winning the most coveted team tournament in world badminton.

"Lakshya has been a rising star. He has done exceptionally well in the last few months. He has been winning events after events and has been phenomenal. But Srikanth has had his ups and downs. He lost out on the Olympics and big medals when it mattered. He has been up and down with his form. People have also doubted Prannoy's presence in the team and I think he needed to prove a point," said Gopichand, who has had a huge role to play in the rise of Indian badminton in the last decade.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-winning-thomas-cup-is-like-winning-world-cup-of-football-says-badminton-great-pullela-gopichand-479520">India winning Thomas Cup is like winning World Cup of football, says badminton great&nbsp;Gopichand</a>

"The doubles players Satwik and Chirag probably wanted to prove a point as it has always been the case that singles players are good but doubles are not. So it was like there was something at stake which was larger - personal pride combined with the country's emotions. There was a lot of good spirits around and each one celebrated the other's&nbsp;victory.

The whole camaraderie, the whole issue of personal pride and country came together to make a fine team," the chief national coach explained.

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Indian men's badminton team scripted history in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday (May 15) as they went on to lift their maiden Thomas Cup title after stunning 14-time champions Indonesia 3-0 in the final.

Indian men's badminton team scripted history in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday (May 15) as they went on to lift their maiden Thomas Cup title after stunning 14-time champions Indonesia 3-0 in the final. It was a dominant performance from India in the all-important summit clash as they wrapped up the final winning three matches on the trot. India won their first-ever Thomas Cup title in the 73-year-long history of the tournament. Lakshya Sen and Kidamb Srikanth won their respective singles matches while the doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won their doubles match to propel India to a historic triumph. In an exclusive interaction with WION, Indian badminton great Pullela Gopichand labelled the historic win as the biggest ever in the history of Indian badminton. Gopichand, who is the last Indian to have won the prestigious All England Championships and is currently India's chief national badminton coach, said the only thing that could better the Indian men's team's Thomas Cup win was if both the men's and women's team won gold medals at the coveted tournament. "Every time I think of the sport, I think this is the best it can happen and every time we have surpassed those expectations. But I think this is really one of the biggest ever wins," Gopichand told WION in an exclusive interview. "The only that can probably beat it is if you can win both the men's and women's medals together. This is huge, this is as big as it gets in terms of team championships at the highest level," he added. Also Read: Exclusive! Don't think anyone had dreamt of India beating Indonesia 3-0 in Thomas Cup: Kidambi Srikanth Gopichand, one of the most dedicated coaches in the Indian badminton circuit, is often credited to have nurtured the current crop of stars in Indian badminton. He has been running the Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad which has produced a number of top shuttlers including the likes of Srikanth and PV Sindhu among others. A few years ago, it was a distant dream for Indian badminton to compete against the likes of Indonesia, Malaysia and Denmark, who are powerhouses in the sport. However, the Indian team defeated all three countries on their way to a historic win at the Thomas Cup 2022 this year. Explaining the reason behind India's exceptional performance at the Thomas Cup this year, Gopichand said the senior players in the side had personal pride at stake and had a lot to prove to their critics. He also lauded the team members for complimenting each other well throughout their campaign. "I think it's a combination of things. We can call it a team championship but still each one goes out there and, plays their own match, comes out and turns out it adds to the squad unlike hockey, football or cricket. Also Read: We created a WhatsApp group titled ‘We’ll Bring It Home': Kidambi Srikanth after India win Thomas Cup But I think what is important is that these players have peaked at the right time. They are playing their best badminton at the right time. Also, each one had their personal pride at stake, they were competing against each other but were also complementing each other," said Gopichand. Gopichand also detailed how the likes of Srikanth and HS Prannoy have proved the naysayers wrong while calling the young Lakshya Sen the rising star of Indian badminton. Sen had gotten the better of Toy Olympics bronze medallist Anthony Ginting in the Thomas Cup final while Srikanth defeated Jonathan Christie in straight sets. The doubles pair of Satwik and Chirag arguably had the toughest tie in the final as they were up against the talented and experienced duo of Mohammad Ahsan and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo. After losing the first game 21-18 against the Indonesia pair, Satwik and Chirag staged a comeback for the ages. The Indian pair clinched the second game 23-21 before taking the final game 21-19. Gopichand said almost each of the senior players in the squad had headed into the tournament with a point to prove and they fought like a team to make history by winning the most coveted team tournament in world badminton. "Lakshya has been a rising star. He has done exceptionally well in the last few months. He has been winning events after events and has been phenomenal. But Srikanth has had his ups and downs. He lost out on the Olympics and big medals when it mattered. He has been up and down with his form. People have also doubted Prannoy's presence in the team and I think he needed to prove a point," said Gopichand, who has had a huge role to play in the rise of Indian badminton in the last decade. Also Read: India winning Thomas Cup is like winning World Cup of football, says badminton great Gopichand "The doubles players Satwik and Chirag probably wanted to prove a point as it has always been the case that singles players are good but doubles are not. So it was like there was something at stake which was larger - personal pride combined with the country's emotions. There was a lot of good spirits around and each one celebrated the other's victory. The whole camaraderie, the whole issue of personal pride and country came together to make a fine team," the chief national coach explained. ×

Exclusive! Thomas Cup triumph one of the biggest ever wins for Indian badminton: Pullela Gopichand

The Indian Men's Badminton team scripted history on Sunday by winning a maiden Thomas Cup title. The Chief Coach of the National Team- Pullela Gopichand- spoke to WION Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo on the magnitude of the achievement.

WION Sports: Pullela Gopichand on India's historic Thomas cup triumph

The Indian Men's Badminton team scripted history on Sunday by winning the Thomas Cup for the very first time. The Thomas Cup is the sport's equivalent of the Davis Cup in Tennis or the Football World Cup and just five countries had previously managed to win it across 32 editions. India beat 14-time champions Indonesia in the summit clash with Captain Kidambi Srikanth winning all his six singles matches throughout the tournament. Srikanth reflected on the win during a conversation with WION Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo.

Thomas Cup: Indian Men's Badminton team scripts history with their historic 3-0 win

Indian men's badminton team created history last week as they thrashed Indonesia 3-0 to win the prestigious Thomas Cup for the first time in the 73-year-long history of the tournament. India were up against 13-time champions Indonesia, who were overwhelming favourites in the final but managed to stun the badminton giants with a performance for the ages.

Indian men's badminton team created history last week as they thrashed Indonesia 3-0 to win the prestigious Thomas Cup for the first time in the 73-year-long history of the tournament. India were up against 13-time champions Indonesia, who were overwhelming favourites in the final but managed to stun the badminton giants with a performance for the ages.

India enjoyed a dominant run throughout the tournament as they defeated Malaysia in the quarterfinals before outclassing Denmark to secure a spot in the final for the first time in the history of the tournament. India's best finish at the Thomas Cup before this year had come in 1979 when the Indian men's team starring the likes of Prakash Padukone and Syed Modi lost against Denmark in the semifinal.

However, history was rewritten on Sunday (May 15) as Indian shuttlers downed 13-time champions Indonesia in the final. Kidambi Srikanth, who led the Indian team in the tournament, remained unbeaten throughout winning all six matches to seal a historic triumph for the country.&nbsp;

After Lakshya Sen and the pair of&nbsp;Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty gave India a 2-0 lead by winning their respective matches, Srikanth was up against a seasoned campaigner in Jonatan Christie. He got the better of Christie in straight sets to seal the deal for India and wrapped a 3-0 win for his team.

In an exclusive interaction with WION, an elated Srikanth said no one had given them a chance and beating Indonesia felt like a far fetched dream for Indian fans but the players gave their all to ensure they returned home with the Thomas Cup trophy.

"In the final, I don't think anyone would have even dreamt of the Indian team winning 3-0 against Indonesia," Srikanth told WION.

"All these three teams (Malaysia, Denmark and Indonesia) were ranked higher than India in this tournament and all three teams had good players and were very strong but we did really play well and never gave up. We fought hard till the end.

To beat all the former champions, and beating defending champions Indonesia in the final is a great feeling. I won't be able to do justice if I try to put it in words," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-winning-thomas-cup-is-like-winning-world-cup-of-football-says-badminton-great-pullela-gopichand-479520">India winning Thomas Cup is like winning World Cup of football, says badminton great&nbsp;Gopichand</a>

While Srikanth defeated Christie in the third and final match, young Lakshya Sen had given India the perfect start in the final with a thrilling win over Anthony Ginting in the first match of the final. Sen lost the first game 21-8 but stage a brilliant comeback to stun Ginting 17-21, 16-21 to give India a 1-0 lead.

Satwik and Chirag also went down against the Indonesian pair of Muhammad Ahsan and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo in the first game of the second match before bouncing back to beat them 18-21, 23-21, 21-19 to extend India's lead to 2-0. It was the unstoppable Srikanth, who then wrapped up the final by outclassing Christie.

Crediting each of the ten players in the team for playing their roles to perfection, Srikanth said everyone stepped up when it mattered and played their A-game under pressure.

"Yeah, individually we have always done well but now to come together and perform as a team and to be this consistent throughout the tournament is a great effort from everyone. All ten players in the team played their part perfectly and the credit goes to everyone. Big congratulations to all ten players," said Srikanth.

"When I said everyone played their part, if you actually see, Prannoy played the decider in the quarterfinal and the semi-final. It was 2-2 and he took it upon himself and won those matches for us. For it to come that far, Satwik and Chirag did really well to win their matches. It was a collective effort, each one stepped when it mattered and played their A-game," he explained.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-created-a-whatsapp-group-titled-well-bring-it-home-kidambi-srikanth-after-india-win-thomas-cup-479355">We created a WhatsApp group titled ‘We’ll Bring It Home': Kidambi Srikanth after India win Thomas Cup</a>

<h3>I have been privileged to inspire the next generation: Kidambi Srikanth&nbsp;</h3>

Srikanth has been around for a number of years now and has achieved several highs so far in his career. He was the first Indian and only the 4th male shuttler to win as many as four Super Series titles in a calendar year in 2017. He was also part of the Indian team which won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

Speaking about the historic firsts that he has been involved in, Srikanth said he felt privileged to be in a position to inspire the next generation and make them believe that they achieve great things at the international level.

"When I won the China Open, I became the first men's singles player to win&nbsp;Super Series Premier. I was also the first-ever Indian to win it and then I became the first-ever to win 2 Super Series Premier and then 3. When the team won the Commonwealth Games gold, we won it after like 40-50 years. So I kind of had the privilege to be the first person in most of the things and I am very happy," said Srikanth.

"I did something for Indian badminton and then the next generation can look up to it and I made people believe that they can do it at the international level," concluded the Indian men's badminton team skipper.

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Indian men's badminton team created history last week as they thrashed Indonesia 3-0 to win the prestigious Thomas Cup for the first time in the 73-year-long history of the tournament.

Indian men's badminton team created history last week as they thrashed Indonesia 3-0 to win the prestigious Thomas Cup for the first time in the 73-year-long history of the tournament. India were up against 13-time champions Indonesia, who were overwhelming favourites in the final but managed to stun the badminton giants with a performance for the ages. Indian men's badminton team created history last week as they thrashed Indonesia 3-0 to win the prestigious Thomas Cup for the first time in the 73-year-long history of the tournament. India were up against 13-time champions Indonesia, who were overwhelming favourites in the final but managed to stun the badminton giants with a performance for the ages. India enjoyed a dominant run throughout the tournament as they defeated Malaysia in the quarterfinals before outclassing Denmark to secure a spot in the final for the first time in the history of the tournament. India's best finish at the Thomas Cup before this year had come in 1979 when the Indian men's team starring the likes of Prakash Padukone and Syed Modi lost against Denmark in the semifinal. However, history was rewritten on Sunday (May 15) as Indian shuttlers downed 13-time champions Indonesia in the final. Kidambi Srikanth, who led the Indian team in the tournament, remained unbeaten throughout winning all six matches to seal a historic triumph for the country. After Lakshya Sen and the pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty gave India a 2-0 lead by winning their respective matches, Srikanth was up against a seasoned campaigner in Jonatan Christie. He got the better of Christie in straight sets to seal the deal for India and wrapped a 3-0 win for his team. In an exclusive interaction with WION, an elated Srikanth said no one had given them a chance and beating Indonesia felt like a far fetched dream for Indian fans but the players gave their all to ensure they returned home with the Thomas Cup trophy. "In the final, I don't think anyone would have even dreamt of the Indian team winning 3-0 against Indonesia," Srikanth told WION. "All these three teams (Malaysia, Denmark and Indonesia) were ranked higher than India in this tournament and all three teams had good players and were very strong but we did really play well and never gave up. We fought hard till the end. To beat all the former champions, and beating defending champions Indonesia in the final is a great feeling. I won't be able to do justice if I try to put it in words," he added. Also Read: India winning Thomas Cup is like winning World Cup of football, says badminton great Gopichand While Srikanth defeated Christie in the third and final match, young Lakshya Sen had given India the perfect start in the final with a thrilling win over Anthony Ginting in the first match of the final. Sen lost the first game 21-8 but stage a brilliant comeback to stun Ginting 17-21, 16-21 to give India a 1-0 lead. Satwik and Chirag also went down against the Indonesian pair of Muhammad Ahsan and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo in the first game of the second match before bouncing back to beat them 18-21, 23-21, 21-19 to extend India's lead to 2-0. It was the unstoppable Srikanth, who then wrapped up the final by outclassing Christie. Crediting each of the ten players in the team for playing their roles to perfection, Srikanth said everyone stepped up when it mattered and played their A-game under pressure. "Yeah, individually we have always done well but now to come together and perform as a team and to be this consistent throughout the tournament is a great effort from everyone. All ten players in the team played their part perfectly and the credit goes to everyone. Big congratulations to all ten players," said Srikanth. "When I said everyone played their part, if you actually see, Prannoy played the decider in the quarterfinal and the semi-final. It was 2-2 and he took it upon himself and won those matches for us. For it to come that far, Satwik and Chirag did really well to win their matches. It was a collective effort, each one stepped when it mattered and played their A-game," he explained. Also Read: We created a WhatsApp group titled ‘We’ll Bring It Home': Kidambi Srikanth after India win Thomas Cup I have been privileged to inspire the next generation: Kidambi Srikanth Srikanth has been around for a number of years now and has achieved several highs so far in his career. He was the first Indian and only the 4th male shuttler to win as many as four Super Series titles in a calendar year in 2017. He was also part of the Indian team which won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2018. Speaking about the historic firsts that he has been involved in, Srikanth said he felt privileged to be in a position to inspire the next generation and make them believe that they achieve great things at the international level. "When I won the China Open, I became the first men's singles player to win Super Series Premier. I was also the first-ever Indian to win it and then I became the first-ever to win 2 Super Series Premier and then 3. When the team won the Commonwealth Games gold, we won it after like 40-50 years. So I kind of had the privilege to be the first person in most of the things and I am very happy," said Srikanth. "I did something for Indian badminton and then the next generation can look up to it and I made people believe that they can do it at the international level," concluded the Indian men's badminton team skipper. ×

Exclusive! Don't think anyone had dreamt of India beating Indonesia 3-0 in Thomas Cup: Kidambi Srikanth

WION Sports: Captain Kidambi Srikanth speaks to WION on India's Thomas Cup triumph

Indian shuttlers created history in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday (May 15) as they thrashed Indonesia to power the country to its maiden Thomas Cup title in 73 years. The Indian men's team spearheaded by Kidambi Srikanth stunned 14-time champions Indonesia 3-0 in the final to bring an end to their long-standing title drought in the prestigious competition.

Lakshya Sen gave India a perfect start in the game as he managed to stage an epic comeback against Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Anthony Ginting. Sen lost the first game of the first tie 8-21 before bouncing back to beat Ginting 21-17, 21-16 to give India a 1-0 lead. The doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty too continued their magical run in the final.

The Indian pair lost the first game 18-21 against Mohammad Ahsan and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo before winning the next two games 23-21, 21-19 to extend India's lead to 2-0. It was the experienced Kidambi Srikanth, who sealed India's dominant 3-0 win as he defeated Jonatan Christie 21-15, 23-21 in straight sets to make it 3-0 in India's favour.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-created-a-whatsapp-group-titled-well-bring-it-home-kidambi-srikanth-after-india-win-thomas-cup-479355">We created a WhatsApp group titled ‘We’ll Bring It Home': Kidambi Srikanth after India win Thomas Cup</a>

Reacting to India's historic triumph in the Thomas Cup, Indian badminton legend Pullela Gopichand compared it to winning a football World Cup. India has never won the FIFA World Cup and is not considered among the powerhouses in world football. Gopichand said no one would have given India a chance in the past but the men's team has proved their critics wrong.

"We didn't do great together as a unit in the past, but today that has changed. Winning Thomas Cup is like winning World Cup of football," Gopichand was quoted as saying by Times Now.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/thomas-cup-entire-nation-is-elated-pm-narendra-modi-virat-kohli-others-hail-indias-historic-win-479139">'Entire nation is elated' - PM Narendra Modi, Virat Kohli &amp; others hail India's historic Thomas Cup win</a>

India had earlier defeated Denmark 3-2 in the semi-final to enter the final of the coveted tournament for the first time in its history. While Indonesia were clear favourites heading into the final, the Indian shuttlers dominated the proceedings to lift the country's maiden title.

The Indian sports ministry announced a cash prize of Rs 1 crore (INR 10 million) for the Indian men's badminton team after their historic triumph.

Indian shuttlers created history in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday (May 15) as they thrashed Indonesia to power the country to its maiden Thomas Cup title in 73 years.

Indian shuttlers created history in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday (May 15) as they thrashed Indonesia to power the country to its maiden Thomas Cup title in 73 years. The Indian men's team spearheaded by Kidambi Srikanth stunned 14-time champions Indonesia 3-0 in the final to bring an end to their long-standing title drought in the prestigious competition. Lakshya Sen gave India a perfect start in the game as he managed to stage an epic comeback against Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Anthony Ginting. Sen lost the first game of the first tie 8-21 before bouncing back to beat Ginting 21-17, 21-16 to give India a 1-0 lead. The doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty too continued their magical run in the final. The Indian pair lost the first game 18-21 against Mohammad Ahsan and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo before winning the next two games 23-21, 21-19 to extend India's lead to 2-0. It was the experienced Kidambi Srikanth, who sealed India's dominant 3-0 win as he defeated Jonatan Christie 21-15, 23-21 in straight sets to make it 3-0 in India's favour. Also Read: We created a WhatsApp group titled ‘We’ll Bring It Home': Kidambi Srikanth after India win Thomas Cup Reacting to India's historic triumph in the Thomas Cup, Indian badminton legend Pullela Gopichand compared it to winning a football World Cup. India has never won the FIFA World Cup and is not considered among the powerhouses in world football. Gopichand said no one would have given India a chance in the past but the men's team has proved their critics wrong. "We didn't do great together as a unit in the past, but today that has changed. Winning Thomas Cup is like winning World Cup of football," Gopichand was quoted as saying by Times Now. Also Read: 'Entire nation is elated' - PM Narendra Modi, Virat Kohli & others hail India's historic Thomas Cup win India had earlier defeated Denmark 3-2 in the semi-final to enter the final of the coveted tournament for the first time in its history. While Indonesia were clear favourites heading into the final, the Indian shuttlers dominated the proceedings to lift the country's maiden title. The Indian sports ministry announced a cash prize of Rs 1 crore (INR 10 million) for the Indian men's badminton team after their historic triumph.

India winning Thomas Cup is like winning World Cup of football, says badminton great Pullela Gopichand

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