Report: Olympic medallists PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal sailed into the women's singles semi-final while men's World No 2 Kidambi Srikanth also notched up a comfortable win in the 82nd Senior National Badminton Championship on Monday.
In the women's singles quarter-finals, London Games bronze medallist Saina thrashed Aakarshi Kashyap 21-17, 21-10.
In another last-eight match, Rio Olympics silver medallist Sindhu proved too good for Shriyanshi Pardeshi, winning her match 21-11, 21-17.
In the men's singles competition, India's top male shuttler Srikanth had it easy as he dispatched Shubham Prajapati 21-17, 23-21.
The proceedings in the quarter-finals started with the mixed doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa taking on Shivam Sharma and Poorvisha S Ram.
Satwik and Ponnappa, with their high speed and seamless coordination, managed to bag the first game 21-14 and the second 21-12.
Maharashtra Badminton Association president Arun Lakhani said, "The country's top shuttlers certainly proved their mettle today. Over 10,000 spectators, including 5,800 children turned up to watch their heroes live in action in the course of the day and they didn't disappoint.
"The skill on display was mesmerising. Each match was a riveting spectacle. But even as our legends shone, India's up and coming badminton stars made their mark. All in all a great day on which badminton emerged as the biggest winner."
Main results of the day:
Women's singles: Saina Nehwal (PET) beat Aakarshi Kashyap (AAI) 21-17 21-10; PV Sindhu (AP) beat Shriyanshi Pardeshi (MP) 21-11 21-17
Men's singles: Kidambi Srikanth (PET) beat Shubham Prajapati (MP) 21-17 23-21
Mixed doubles: Satwiksairaj and Ashwini Ponnappa (AP/PET) beat Shivam Sharma and Poorvisha S Ram (RBI) 21-14 21-12.
With inputs from PTI
Published Date: Nov 07, 2017 01:03 pm | Updated Date: Nov 07, 2017 05:19 pm
Highlights
Saina Nehwal is through to the final
A dominating performance by Saina to thwart Anura Prabhudesai 21-11, 21-10 in just 30 minutes and book a place in the women's singles final. It was a match where Saina relied on smashes and attacking strokes from the mid-court to unsettle Anura.
It is the experienced pairing of Prajakta and Sanyogita who prevail 18-21, 21-12, 21-16 in a hard-fought three set encounter to book their place in the Final of the Senior National Badminton Championships
The young pair of Rutupurna Panda and UK Mithula overcome the three-point deficit at the mid-game break to win the opening game 21-18
HS Prannoy books his place in the Final of the 82nd Senior National Badminton Championships defeating Subhankar Dey 21-14, 21-17
21-14! Prannoy wins the opening game with consummate ease. Subhankar seemed all over the place after the mid-game break. Prannoy controlled the rallies to win points at important moments
Singles semi-finals
HS Prannoy vs Subhankar Dey
Saina Nehwal vs Anura Prabhudesai
Kidambi Srikanth vs Lakshya Sen
PV Sindhu vs Ruthvika Shivani G
17:16 (IST)
19-16! A few unforced errors have put Sen on the back foot. He has gifted points to Srikanth who looks set to clinch the match.
17:14 (IST)
17-15! Srikanth hits a couple of deceptive shots to unsettle Sen. He is using his experience to his advantage yet again.
17:12 (IST)
14-14! And it is still level in the second game between Sen and Srikanth. Told you, this match is one of the matches to watch out for.
17:11 (IST)
17:09 (IST)
10-12! That's three points on the trot for Sen as Srikanth struggles to return the shuttle across the net. Sen has finally shown his attacking skills.
17:08 (IST)
17:05 (IST)
7-4! Sen is pushing hard to pip Srikanth as we approach the mid-game break of the second break. The key to beat Srikanth is playing an overall game from the net.
17:03 (IST)
3-1! Great composure from Srikanth to play quick forehand trick shots from the net. Sen needs to attack more often.
17:00 (IST)
Srikanth takes the first game: 21-16!
Despite a good start, Sen loses the opening game against an attacking Srikanth. The 16-year-old showed great courage to return the shuttle and defend but failed to hit the winners early.
16:55 (IST)
18-14! A powerful backhand drive to take a four-point lead over Sen in the opening game.
16:54 (IST)
15-11! A series of unforced errors by Sen after the mid-game break. His returns are a treat to watch but Srikanth is delivering booming smashes to trouble the 16-year-old shuttler.
16:52 (IST)
11-10! Srikanth has a slender one-point lead over Sen at the mid-game interval of the first game. The 16-year-old is putting up a brave fight against the World No 2.
16:49 (IST)
16:47 (IST)
5-5! Srikanth hits the frame yet again to gift a point to Sen. The World No 2 has always been eager to go for the kill, something Srikanth has been guilty of.
16:45 (IST)
2-2! A good start for Sen who will have to up his defensive game against an attack-minded Srikanth. Once he does that, he can rely on his impressive backhand strokes to capitalise against the World No 2
16:41 (IST)
Srikanth vs Lakshya Sen is the game to watch out of all the matches. All eyes will be on the 16-year-old.
16:37 (IST)
Saina Nehwal is through to the final
A dominating performance by Saina to thwart Anura Prabhudesai 21-11, 21-10 in just 30 minutes and book a place in the women's singles final. It was a match where Saina relied on smashes and attacking strokes from the mid-court to unsettle Anura.
16:32 (IST)
19-9! Four straight points for Saina as she looks to finish the match quickly. Notably, her smashes has been lethal and it is something the opponent needs to worry about.
16:31 (IST)
16-9! The second game has shown Saina's control over her shots, while Anura couldn't send the shuttle across the net.
16:28 (IST)
13-8! Yet another half-smash by Saina and Anura fails to defend it. Saina has used her experience to her advantage in this match.
16:26 (IST)
16:25 (IST)
9-5! Anura is targetting the sidelines, however, she has been unfortunate in the process, hitting the shuttle a bit wide. She trails by four points
16:22 (IST)
6-4! That's a quality attacking stroke from Saina from the mid-court. Anura misjudged the shot completely.
16:21 (IST)
3-3! The second game gets underway and both shuttlers are level in the early stages. It will be interesting to see which shuttler comes out on top at the mid-game interval.
16:18 (IST)
16:14 (IST)
18-10! That's an eight-point lead for Saina there. Anura is trying her best to retrieve but her shots haven't been powerful from the backcourt.
16:12 (IST)
14-8! Saina has been able to control the drift inside the court. Anura commits an unforced error, leaving Saina with a six-point lead in the first game.
16:10 (IST)
16:08 (IST)
9-4! Anura is struggling to lift the bird from the backcourt as Saina delivers back-to-back half-smashes to take the lead.
16:06 (IST)
5-2! Saina opens up a three-point lead over Anura in the early stages of the opening game. She hasn't misjudged a shot so far.
16:03 (IST)
Saina Nehwal vs Anura Prabhudesai
The second seed will be up against Prabhudesai in the semis of the women's singles event. There's a possibility of a Saina-Sindhu final should Saina win this crucial game.
15:41 (IST)
The top seeded pair Ashwini and Sikki hardly break a sweat in the opening game to clinch it 21-10 to go one step closer to reach the final
15:33 (IST)
In the second women's doubles semi-final action, the top seeded pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy take on Aparna Balan and KP Sruthi
15:31 (IST)
It is the experienced pairing of Prajakta and Sanyogita who prevail 18-21, 21-12, 21-16 in a hard-fought three set encounter to book their place in the Final of the Senior National Badminton Championships
14:59 (IST)
Prajakta and Sanyogita fight right back into the match with a dominating second game winning 21-12 to push the semi-final into the decider
14:49 (IST)
14:42 (IST)
The young pair of Rutupurna Panda and UK Mithula overcome the three-point deficit at the mid-game break to win the opening game 21-18
14:37 (IST)
14:31 (IST)
11-8! The duo of Sanyogita and Prajakta go into the mid-game break with a 3-point advantage
14:27 (IST)
It is time for women's doubles action as Rutuparna Panda-UK Mithula take on Sanyogita Ghorpade-Prajakta Sawant
14:26 (IST)
14:20 (IST)
HS Prannoy books his place in the Final of the 82nd Senior National Badminton Championships defeating Subhankar Dey 21-14, 21-17
14:14 (IST)
19-16! Prannoy has been in control of all the rallies in the match so far and it was no different this time as he goes two points closer to winning the semi-final
14:12 (IST)
17-15! Prannoy still maintains the 2-point lead but Subhankar is putting up a major fight to ensure this match goes into the decider
14:10 (IST)
16-14! Subhankar is pumped up every time he gets closer to Prannoy's score. However, Prannoy seems to have his hold on the match and is firmly maintaining the lead with a clever mix of offence and defence
14:06 (IST)
12-9! Subhankar seems to like winning points in a cluster, but Prannoy has developed a knack of clinching the rallies and is no different this time
14:04 (IST)
14:01 (IST)
10-6! Prannoy displaying his skill and tactics to use the entire court in his favour to widen the lead in the second game of the semi-final
13:59 (IST)
6-5! A couple of strong smashes from Subhankar takes him one point closer to level the scores with Prannoy
13:58 (IST)
5-3! WHAT A RALLY!!! Yet another successful point for Prannoy from a rally as he puts an end to Subhankar's run of three consecutive points