Top Seeds Sindhu, Lakshya Ease into Semifinals
Punjab News
Top Indian badminton players PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen moved a significant step closer to clinching the women’s and men’s singles titles, respectively, with dominant straight-game victories in the quarterfinals of the prestigious Syed Modi International Super 300 tournament on Friday. Both athletes showcased their skill and determination, ensuring their places in the semifinals, where they will continue their pursuit of the coveted title. Sindhu and Sen’s consistent performances highlighted their readiness to compete at the highest level, reinforcing their positions as leading contenders in the tournament.
In another outstanding display of talent, second seed Priyanshu Rajawat also delivered a remarkable performance in the men’s singles quarterfinals. He triumphed over Hong Kong’s Nguyen Hai Dang with a commanding 21-13, 21-8 scoreline, securing his place in the semifinals. Rajawat’s controlled and precise gameplay throughout the match left no room for his opponent to gain momentum, showcasing his growing confidence and ability to handle the pressure of top-level competition. His victory further solidified his potential to challenge for the title.
Sindhu, who is the top seed in the women’s singles event and a two-time champion at the Syed Modi International (having won in 2017 and 2022), delivered a commanding performance against China’s Dai Wang in the quarterfinals. Sindhu won the match comfortably with scores of 21-15, 21-17 in just 48 minutes, displaying her trademark mix of attacking and defensive play. The win underlined her dominance at this event and reinforced her status as a favorite to win the title again. Meanwhile, Lakshya Sen, the bronze medalist from the 2021 World Championships, displayed his brilliance in the men’s singles quarterfinals by overcoming his compatriot Meiraba Luwang Maisnam. Sen played with exceptional precision and focus, winning the match 21-8, 21-19, and securing his spot in the next round. His victory was a testament to his growing stature in the sport and his readiness to challenge for the men’s singles title at this prestigious event.
“Today’s match was important. Even though she is a low-ranked player, it doesn’t matter. I have rectified my mistakes from yesterday, what went wrong I have not made those again today. I was aggressive from the beginning. Overall, I am happy with my game compared to yesterday,” Sindhu said.
Sindhu is ranked 18th in the world while Wang is 118th. “Yesterday, it was a rough patch at some point of time. But I think today I did not give her a chance. I am happy with the result and my game. I would like to finish the year on a very good note,” she said.
Sindhu is set to play against fellow Indian Unnati Hooda in the semifinals, while Lakshya Sen will take on Japan’s Shogo Ogawa. Meanwhile, Priyanshu Rajawat is slated to face fourth-seeded Jia Heng Jason Teh from Singapore in his semifinal match.
“It was a good match. Overall, happy with the way I started. The second game was tough at some moments but I am happy I could pull out the match,” Lakshya said.
Hooda, the 2022 Odisha Open champion, secured a dominant 21-16, 21-9 win over Ishika Jaiswal of the USA in her quarterfinal matchup.
“I took time to adjust to the court conditions, but I stuck to my game plan and it became better with time,” said Hooda, who missed six months earlier this year due to injury.
“It is very different to make the transition from junior to international circuit, and I need to improve on a lot of aspects to do well in international events, which is extremely competitive.”
Top seeds Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa reached the semifinals with a 21-12, 17-21, 21-16 victory over their fifth-seeded Indian counterparts Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra in the women’s doubles event.
The second-seeded women’s doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who have already secured a spot in the season-ending World Tour Finals in China, continued their impressive form by defeating the sixth-seeded duo of Go Pei Kee and Teoh Mei Xing 21-8, 21-15, also booking their place in the semifinals.
In mixed doubles, fifth seeds Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto triumphed over Malaysia’s Loo Bing Kun and Ho Lo Ee with a dominant 21-16, 21-13 scoreline, advancing to the semifinals.
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