Thailand Open 2021: Kidambi Srikanth and Saina Nehwal moves into the second round.
It was a mixed day for the Indian shuttlers as Kidambi
Srikanth moved into the second round of the Super 1000 Thailand Open played at
Bangkok on Wednesday.
The men’s doubles pairing of Satwiksairaj RankiReddy and
Chirag Shetty defeated the South Korean pair of Kim Gi Jung and Lee Yong Dae in
three sets. It was a closely fought match right from the word go.
In the first game, the match started on the right note as both
pairs took alternate points at 5-5. After that, the Korean pair put the pressure
back and showed their class with an 11-8 lead at the interval. Despite the lack of
coordination from the Indian pair, the Korean pair took advantage and took 20-17.
The Indian pair took 2 points in succession before Jung and Lee won the first game at 21-19.
The second game began off well for the Indian pair putting
pressure on the Korean pair with smashes and drop shots. It was a good display
of badminton by Satwik and Chirag as they dominated their opposition to take a
11-8 lead at the interval. After the mid-game interval, the Indian pair continued
their intent putting pressure on the Korean pair winning the second game at 21-16
to force the game into the decider.
Satwiksairaj and Chirag Shetty made life tough for the
opposition with smashes and drop shots. It was an attacking display of
badminton as they took an 11-8 lead at the interval. After the mid-game interval,
the Indian pair played with aggression to win the third and final game at 21-14
to move into the second round.
Kidambi Srikanth defeated Indian counterparts, Sourabh Verma, in two straight sets. Srikanth played with aggression right from the word go
and put Sourabh under immense pressure. At the interval, Srikanth had a
commanding 11-5 lead. After the mid-game interval, Srikanth made life tough for
Sourabh winning the first game at 21-12.
Srikanth looked in complete control during the second game
against Sourabh and won it by 21-11 to move into the second round. In other men’s
singles matches, Sameer Verma lost to Shesar Hiren Rhustavito in two straight
sets by 15-21, 17-21.
HS Prannoy went down fighting to Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia in
three sets by 21-13, 14-21, 8-21 to be knocked out in the first round.
The men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy lost
in two straight sets to Weeraphat Phakjarung and Thongkam of Thailand by 19-21,
14-21 to be knocked out in the first round. The mixed doubles pair of Sumeeth
Reddy and Sikki Reddy lost to Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Set of Hong Kong in
two straight sets by 20-22, 17-21.
After being cleared, Saina Nehwal cruised past Malaysia’s Kisona
Selvaduray in two straight sets by 21-15, 21-15 to move into the second round.
It was a dominating performance by the Indian player who dominated her opponent
and winning it easily.
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