Syed Modi International: PV Sindhu Enters Semis; HS Prannoy Bows Out

Sindhu defeated Thailand’s Supanida at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium

Indian shuttler PV Sindhu advanced to the women’s semi-finals of the 2022 Syed Modi International after defeating Thailand’s Supanida.

Sindhu, the top seed at the tournament, came from behind to clinch the contest 11-21, 21-12, 21-17 in the quarter-finals, which lasted for 65 minutes. 

The Indian began the match on the backfoot and trailed 11-6 at the first break. Katethong proceeded to extend her lead to win the first game in 15 minutes.

The world No 7 Sindhu then raced to a 6-3 lead in the second. However, Katethong cut down the Indian’s lead and levelled the score at 10-10. Sindhu scored seven consecutive points from there on to snatch the momentum and took the game to a decider.

The 26-year-old Sindhu, who is chasing her first title since the world championships in 2019, will face the fifth-seeded Evgeniya Kosetskya of the National Badminton Federation of Russia in the semi-finals.

In another contest of the day, Malvika Bansod beat fellow Indian shuttler Aakarshi Kashyap 21-11, 21-11 to make the semis. Bansod, who had lost to Kashyap at the India Open quarter-finals last week, will go up against Anupama Upadhyaya in the final four.

In men’s singles, HS Prannoy suffered a defeat to Arnaud Merkle of France in straight games. The former world No 8 Indian went down 19-21, 16-21 in 59 minutes.

Manjunath, who had to withdraw from the India Open because of a positive Covid test, overcame a stiff challenge from the National Badminton Federation of Russia’s Sergey Sirant to win the contest 11-21, 21-12, 21-18. He will face Arnaud Merkle in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the mixed doubles semi-finals on Saturday will see all-Indian affairs. MR Arjun-Treesa Jolly will face seventh seeds Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto while Akshan Shetty-Simran Singhi will face T Hema Nagendra Babu and Srivedya Gurazada.

Among other Indians to progress to the semi-finals were the women’s doubles teams of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, and Haritha Manazhiyil Harinarayanan-Ashna Roy.