TO FACE OFF IN SEMIS
Hyderabad, Sept. 7: Shuttlers Sameer Verma and R. M. V. Gurusaidutt set up a semifinal clash after staving off spirited challenge from their respective opponents in the men’s singles competition of the $ 75,000 BWF Tour Super 100 tournament here on Friday.
Top seed Sameer, who had clinched the Swiss Open this year, had to dig deep into his reservoir to outwit compatriot Pratul Joshi 16- 21, 26- 24, 21- 7 in a match that lasted 55 minutes. Gurusaidutt recovered from a game down to outwit Malaysia’s Lim Chi Wing 13- 21, 22- 20, 2111 in a 59- minute quarterfinal match.
Among other Indians in the fray, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty outclassed India’s Tarun Kona and Malaysia’s Lim Khim Wah 21- 13, 21- 10 to sail into the last four.
Fourth seeds Arun George and Sanyam Shukla also entered the final four with a 21- 17, 2115 win over Hong Kong’s Chan Tsz Kit and Yeung Shing Choi to set up a semifinal clash with Satwik and Chirag.
The top Indian mixed doubles pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N. Sikki Reddy defeated Hong Kong’s Yeung Ming Nok and Ng Tsz Yau 2220, 14- 21, 21- 17 to enter the semifinals.
However in the women’s singles, Sri Krishna Priya Kudaravalli and Rasika Raje bowed out after suffering defeats in the quarterfinals.
While Jia Min of Singapore ended Sri Krishna’s run in the tournament with a 21- 12, 21- 12 win, Raje was outwitted 19- 21, 8- 21 by Sim Yu Jin of Korea.