New Delhi: Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu of India entered the women’s singles semi-finals by defeating compatriot Ashmita Chaliha in straight games at the Yonex-Sunrise India Open Badminton 2022 tournament here on Friday.
Top seed former world champion Sindhu defeated 21-year-old Chaliha 21-7 21-18 in a match that lasted 36 minutes. She will face sixth seed Supanida Katethong of Thailand in the last four to reach the final. Ketthong made it to the semi-finals after third seed Yeo Jia Min of Singapore pulled out of the tournament due to ‘high fever’.
Sindhu last played against Chaliha in the 83rd Yonex-Sunrise Senior National Championships in 2019. At that time the young player of Assam had given a strong performance. Chaliha took a long time to find his rhythm on Friday. Though she gave a tough fight in the second game, it was not enough to stop Sindhu.
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PV Sindhu used all her experience in the opening game to take an 11-5 lead. As the match progressed, the gap between the two players increased. Chaliha proved herself better in the second game to level 9-9. Sindhu then took a 15-11 lead, but Chaliha came back again to reduce the score to 15-15.
After this, PV Sindhu increased her aggression in her game by getting four points and came close to victory. In the second semi-final, Akarshi Kashyap will face second seed Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand. The Indian registered a 21-12, 21-15 win over compatriot Malvika Bansod in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Busanan defeated American Lauren Lam 21-12, 21-8 in the last eight. Men’s doubles pair of Ishaan Bhatnagar and Sai Prateek K lost 7-21, 7-21 to third seeds Ong Yu Sin and Teo E Yi of Malaysia in just 19 minutes.
In mixed doubles, the Indian pair of eighth seeds Venkat Gaurav Prasad and Juhi Devangan lost 10-21, 13-21 to Malaysian pair of Chen Tang Ji and Pek Yen Wei in just 23 minutes. Another Indian pair of Nitin HV and Ashwini Bhatt K went down 15-21, 19-21 to Hee Yong Kai Terry and Tan Wei Han of Singapore. (agency)