Round of 16 day today at the 27th edition of the BWF World Championships at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. Our Indian shuttlers were back in action as they all aimed to seal a berth in the quarter-final stage.
First up in men’s doubles on court 1 were M R Arjun and Dhruv Kapila on court 1 as they took on Singapore’s Hee Yong Kai Terry and Loh Kean Hean. It was an enthralling encounter that lasted 58 minutes and went the full distance. The Singaporeans took the first game 21-18. But the Indians were determined and fought back in style to seal the match in their favor by winning the next 2 games 21-15 21-16. It was a first ever quarter-final for the pair at World Championship level. They will go on to face the well established and three time world champion pairing of Mohammed Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia for a spot in the semi-finals.
Out on court 2 was Saina Nehwal. She was up against Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand. The Thai player was the twelfth seed of the tournament. Ongbamrungphan led 19-11 in the first game when Saina took 6 straight points. But the Thai player held on to take the first game 21-17. Saina staged a well structured comeback as she took the second game 21-16. The third game was going neck and neck but Saina started to drop after the mid-game interval as she made constant unforced errors. The Thai player capitalized as she won the match 21-17 16-21 21-13. Defeat for the Indian superstar but a it was a well fought contest.
Court 3 was the next location of action as Commonwealth men’s doubles gold medalists and seventh seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty took on the Danish pair of Jeppe Bay and Lasse Molhede. They need 35 minutes to beat the Danes and book their quarter final spot by winning with a score of 21-12 21-10. They face the second seeded pair of Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi of Japan.
Up next on court 3 was the match that most people were waiting for. The all Indian round of 16 tie between Commonwealth men’s singles champion Lakshya Sen and in-form HS Prannoy. Both men were playing without coaches watching on as they went full on at each other. The match lasted an epic 75 minutes as Prannoy emerged victorious 17-21 21-16 21-17. Prannoy looked in great shape as both players exchanged some scintillating rallies. Prannoy has now strung up two great matches together and will face Zhao Jun Peng of China who beat the fifth seed Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia 21-19 11-21 21-19 in 65 minutes. When everybody anticipated a Lakshya Sen and Lee Zii Jia encounter, it is HS Prannoy and Zhao Jun Peng to battle it out for a semi-final berth.
Quarter finals day awaits tomorrow as our Indian shuttlers look to claim at least a bronze medal to their names at the prestigious event.
Image credit: ESPN
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