FILE PHOTO: Priyanshu Rajawat in action. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Welcome to Sportstar’s Coverage highlights of the 2023 Orleans Masters quarterfinal in which India’s Priyanshu Rajawat beats Chinese Taipei’s Chi Yu Jen by 21-18, 21-18 to storm into the semifinals.
The 21-year sensation from India will face Nhat Nguyen of Ireland in the semifinal tomorrow. Nguyen got the walkover against M. Zilberman of Israel in his quarterfinal game.
And, that is it, a long rally finally comes to an end with Jen tiring out and failing to reach the shot on time as Priyanshu wins the match with identical scores of 21-18, 21-18.
Three back-to-back points for Jen as he saved as many match points to keep himself alive in the contest.
Priyanshu’s shot goes way too wide and he fails to close the game in this rally.
A timely response from Jen to take a point back with a cross-court smash.
An error from Priyanshu brings him to the match-point.
A well-timed backhand shot fetches a point to Rajawat, two away from winning the match.
Finally a point after throwing away a hefty lead for Priyanshu as he is three points away from naming this game.
Jen is holding the game with three quick points. Priyanshu is making errors after errors.
A shot which goes wide gifts another point to Rajawat, Priyanshu looks on course to claim this game with the current score of 16-12.
A body smash which Jen could not handle but nets give Priyanshu a four-point cushion.
Priyanshu is running away in the second game as he takes another point, an error in judgement from Jen to miss an inside shot.
First point after the short break for the Indian as he extends the lead to two points.
Priyanshu roars louder this time as he forces Jen to place the shot wide to go into the mid-game interval with a lead once again.
Jen nets his drop shot to let Priyanshu roar once again as the lead vanishes away for the second time for Jen in this game alone.
Rajawat deceives Jen with his pace this time as he was the aggressor in the rally this time.
A controlled rally for Priyanshu till the very end but he makes an error in placing his smash as the cork went wide, gifting a point to Jen. Jen takes another point in succession.
Priyanshu is paving his way back in the game as he is not letting Jen run away with his lead. Two back-to-back points for the Indian to level the score seven-all.
The game is played at a frantic pace and Priyanshu wins a point after a long rally as Jen nets his shot, once again.
Another set of points is being exchanged as both players are playing on each other’s mistake here.
A loud cheer from Priyanshu after he wins a point back as Jen nets his low shot.
An error from Jen who throws his shot outside court to give an easy point back.
Jen snatches back a point after Priyanshu opens his account in the second game. Two points lead maintained.
Priyanshu starts the service in the second set, and Jen shows his aggressive gameplay to win the first two points.
Finally, after a flurry of delicate drop-shots, Priyanshu forced Jen to make an error as he nets his shot which gives Rajawat a solitary point that is enough to win the first game and lead by 1-0 after the first game.
After a long fighting rally between these two which went against India’s favour, Jen takes another point.
Jen gives a wonderful shot which was far away from Priyanshu’s reach as he saves one game point. Still, three points lead for Priyanshu.
Game point for Priaynshu, one away from winning the first game.
Jen reduces the lead by one point but the game looks under Priyanshu’s control.
Jen holds the long rally this time but failed to reply to a near-perfect cross-court delivery. Four points lead for Priyanshu.
Back-to-back points for the Indian to take his lead to three points.
A delicate drop shot from Jen, which required a quick response but Priyanshu fails to reach the cork on time as a point goes to Jen.
A timely smash but could not place it as it goes long.
This time, Jen’s shot finds the net as Priyanshu extends his lead to two points.
Priyanshu finds the net for the second time in this set as the lead narrows to one point.
An error in judgement from Priyanshu as he lets the cork which was inside the court. The first point for Jen in quite some time.
A perfectly jumped smash will fetch another point to the Indian.
A point for Priyanshu as he moves to double-digit points. He follows it up with one more point to go with a two points lead in the mid-game interval.
Error from Rajawat as his drop shot finds the net this time. Nine all.
Priyanshu is doing the chasing work here but this time the shot goes long.
Priyanshu in the serve and Jen replies with a smash which goes wide, a point to Priyanshu which will close the gap.
A topsy-turvy start as Jen takes back the lead with three consecutive points.
And as we type this, Priyanshu gains two valuable points via forcing errors to come back into the lead.
Three consecutive points for Jen as Priyanshu is failing to calm his nerves in the initial time.
A brilliant cross-court smash will give the first point to the Chinese Taipei player.
First point belong to Priyanshu as Jen missed the net.
Priaynshu starts the serve.
Both Priyanshu Rajawat and Chi Yu Jen are on the court and are engaged in pre-match warm-up.
The mixed double games between Chen Tang Jie/ Toh Ee Wei vs Jiang Zeng Bang/Wei Ya Xin ended and it is time for the Indian youngster to come into action.
Men’s Singles World Ranking
World number 58 Rajawat showed immaculate skills and tactical acumen en route to a 21-8 21-16 win over world no. 12 Nishimoto, who had claimed the Madrid Spain Masters title on last Sunday. CHECK OUT THE FULL REPORT HERE - READ
Priyanshu Rajawat, the emerging Indian shuttler, will face Chi Yu Jen of Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinal of Orleans Masters, a Super 300 badminton tournament, in France on Friday.
Yu Jen defeated the other Indian men’s singles player Mithun Manjunath to set up the round-eight clash with Priyanshu.
Priyanshu, the world no. 58, did the most astounding job in the pre-quarterfinal as he notched up a stunning straight-game win over top seed Kenta Nishimoto, the winner of last week’s Madrid Spain Masters title.
In the first round, too, Priyanshu defeated fellow India Kiron George in straight games.
Priyanshu and Yu Jen have not played each other before. The Indian will hope to get a step closer to his first title on the World Tour today.
The 2023 Orleans Masters men’s singles quarterfinal between India’s Prianshu Rajawat and Chinese Tiepie’s Chi Yu Jen will be played on Friday i.e. April 7.
The 2023 Orleans Masters men’s singles quarterfinal between India’s Prianshu Rajawat and Chinese Tiepie’s Chi Yu Jen is the fourth match in the order of play with the first match beginning at 5:30 PM IST. The men’s singles quarterfinal could begin around 7:45 PM IST.
The 2023 Orleans Masters men’s singles quarterfinal between India’s Prianshu Rajawat and Chinese Tiepie’s Chi Yu Jen will be streamed live on BWF TV’s YouTube channel.