Malaysia Open: Satwik-Chirag enter semis; Prannoy loses in quarterfinals

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty performed their hearts out to beat BWF World Tour Finals champions Liu Yu Chen and Ou Xuan Yi in three video games to enter the semifinals of the Malaysia Open Super 750 badminton match right here on Friday.

The Indian pair, seeded seventh right here, toiled to get the higher of the Chinese duo 17-21, 22-20, 21-9 within the males’s doubles quarter-finals.

They will play one other Chinese pair, Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, within the last-four spherical. Earlier, India’s HS Prannoy went down combating to world No. 7 Japanese Kodai Naraoka in a gruelling three video games within the males’s singles quarter-finals. The 30-year-old from Kerala ran out of steam within the 84-minute contest, dropping 16-21, 21-19, 10-21 to the 21-year-old Naraoka, who appeared quicker and fitter, regardless of enjoying two lengthy matches within the earlier rounds.

This was Naraoka’s third win over the Indian in as many conferences. He had defeated Prannoy in three video games on the Singapore Open and World Tour Finals final 12 months. Prannoy performed some crisp winners and confirmed delicate contact on the internet to get better from the opening-game reversal however his youthful rival managed to maintain issues below management within the decider because the Indian succumbed to a heap of unforced errors.

Naraoka, who got here into the match after knocking out house favourite’s second seed Lee Zii Jia in 73 minutes and Ng Tze Yong in 72 minutes, confirmed distinctive restoration as he retrieved every part thrown at him, making Prannoy work additional onerous for his factors. The opening recreation was degree at 7-7 as the 2 displayed some breathtaking retrieving within the energy-sapping rallies.

Naraoka eked out a two-point lead on the interval and managed to maintain the stress to earn the bragging rights.

In the second recreation, Prannoy tried to have interaction his opponent in lengthy rallies, utilizing tosses and clears and regarded to complete with smashes. It labored for a short whereas as he led 13-9 however Naraoka drew parity with 4 straight factors after the Indian dedicated some errors.

Prannoy tried to maintain the rallies tight and flat throughout the web however Naraoka once more levelled at 16-16 earlier than shifting to guide with a internet kill. A weak internet return negated a towering smash from Prannoy as establishment was maintained at 18-18.

However, a exact return and a cross-court smash within the nick of time gave the Indian two recreation factors. Prannoy despatched one broad earlier than one other very good rally ended with the Japanese sending out the shuttle because the match went into the decider. Prannoy had a foot challenge firstly of the third recreation, which began on a fair keel earlier than Naraoka produced two sensational photographs on the internet to win a decent rally and eke out a slender 5-3 lead. The Japanese dominated the rallies thereafter with quite a lot of strokes, whereas Prannoy erred along with his line to fall 5 factors behind on the interval.

As the match wore on, Prannoy’s accuracy suffered as he missed the strains on each flanks, permitting Naraoka to maneuver to 14-6 lead. The Japanese was extra affected person within the rallies and pounced on any little alternative to maintain shifting forward.

At 7-17, the Indian unleashed a straight smash to interrupt the run of factors however a string of errors from a tired-looking Prannoy handed his opponent victory.