BaselTwo-time Olympic medalist Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy reached the women’s and men’s singles finals respectively of the Swiss Open Super 300 badminton tournament here on Saturday. World number seven Sindhu advanced to her second successive final with a 21-18 15-21 21-19 win over Thailand’s Supanida Katethong in the women’s singles semi-final that lasted 79 minutes.
The same 29-year-old Prannoy reached the first final in five years with a 21-19 19-21 21-18 victory over world number five Anthony Sinisuka Jinting of Indonesia in a thrilling semi-final that lasted one hour and 11 minutes. Second seed Sindhu will take on another Thailand player, fourth seed Busanan Ongbamrungphan, in the final on Sunday.
Prannoy, who last won the 2017 US Open, will take on the winner of the semi-final between compatriot Kidambi Srikanth and Indonesia’s Jonathan Christie in the men’s final on Sunday. Sindhu made good use of the court in the opening game against world No. 29 Supanida to collect points with her smashes and continue to lead. He took a 15-7 lead which the Thai player made 18-13. But the Indian player easily won it.
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Supanida took a 16-7 lead in the second game and took advantage of Sindhu going into the net and then the Thai player made it to her name to level the score at 1-1.
In the decider, Sindhu of Hyderabad took a 4-1 lead but her rivals soon leveled it at 7-7. Both the players were trying to take control, but the pace in the rallies benefited Sindhu, who took a 16-13 lead. However, after that both were on 18-18 which became 19-19.
Sindhu saved a match point with a smash and then won the game with a powerful smash. World Championship silver medalist Srikanth reached the semi-finals after registering a three-game win against world number three Anders Antonsen of Denmark. Seventh-seeded Srikanth had defeated Antonsen 21 – 19, 19 – 21, 22 – 20 on Friday night. (agency)