Toyota Thailand Open 2021: Two Indians qualify for the semi-finals
It was a mixed day for the Indian shuttlers as the mixed
doubles and men’s doubles pair qualified for the semi-finals of the Toyota
Super 1000 event played at Bangkok, Thailand on Friday.
The mixed doubles pair of Satwiksairaj RankiReddy and Ashwini
Ponnappa defeated the fifth-seeded Malaysian pair of Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu
Ying in a thrilling encounter. It was a thrilling start to the first game as
both pairs took alternate points till 5-5. Chang and Liu played with aggression
putting the Indian pair under pressure with smashes. At the mid-game interval,
the Malaysian pair had an 11-8 lead. After the interval, RankiReddy, and Chirag
Shetty made a strong comeback into the game by leveling the scores at 13-13. Both
pairs fought for each point, but the Malaysian pair held their nerves to win
the first game at 21-18.
The second game saw the Malaysian team starting on a bright note
putting the pressure back on the Indians with smashes, but the Indian pair made
a strong comeback. At the mid-game interval, the Malaysian pair had an 11-8 lead
at the interval. After the mid-game interval, the Indian pair committed a lot
of unforced errors to be behind at 14-18. Ashwini Ponnappa and RankiReddy made
a strong comeback into the game by leveling the scores at 18-18. The Malaysian
pair had chances of winning the match by Ashwini and RankiReddy great fighting skills
to win the second game at 24-22.
It was a closely fought third game as both pairs fought for
each point till 9-9. The Malaysian pair took 2 points in succession to have a
11-9 lead at the interval. After the interval, Ashwini Ponnappa and RankiReddy
fought back strongly to equalize the score. Both pairs fought for each point before the Indian pair held their nerves winning the third game at 22-20 to
move into the semi-finals. They will take on number 1 ranked seed Dechapol
Puavaranukoh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand in the semi-finals.
Satwiksairaj RankiReddy and Chirag Shetty went past through
Ong Yew Sin and Teo Se Yi of Malaysia in two straight sets. It was a good start
by the Indian pair who played with aggression putting the Malaysian pair under
pressure. The match went from one side to another as the Malaysian pair showed
aggression and took an 11-9 lead at the interval. After the interval, RankiReddy
and Chirag won points in succession to level the scores at 12-12. Ong and Teo
made a strong comeback to take a 16-14 lead and maintained this momentum till
17-15. The Indian pair showed their class winning points in succession before
winning the first set at 21-18.
The second game saw a close fought game between the two
pairs. Both pairs took alternate points and kept on pressure with smash shots.
At the interval, the Malaysian pair had an 11-9 lead. After the mid-game
interval, the Malaysian pair showed their class and controlled the play with
13-10 lead. Chirag and RankiReddy made a strong comeback into the game
leveling at 13-13. Both pairs fought for each point till 19-19. The Malaysian
had 2 game points but Chirag and RankiReddy leveled the scores.
RankiReddy and Chirag Shetty made it 23-22 before winning
the match at 24-22 to move into the semi-finals. They will face Aaron Chia and
Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia.
PV Sindhu lost to Thailand Ratchnok Intanon in two straight
sets. It was a disappointing performance by the Indian who never looked in the
game. In the first game, Intanon played with aggression and kept the pressure
on the Indian. Despite Sindhu getting points, the Thai player had a commanding 11-7
lead. After the interval, Intanon looked in complete command winning the first
game easily at 21-13.
The second game saw Intanon upped the ante with her aggressive
play and putting the pressure on Sindhu. Intanon took a commanding 11-4 lead at
the interval. After the mid-game interval, the Thai player made light work of
the Indian winning it 21-9.
Sameer Verma went down fighting to 3rd seeded
Anders Anderson of Denmark in a thriller. Anderson began off brilliantly in the
first game taking an early 5-0 lead. Sameer got off the mark but the Danish
player showed his aggression while Sameer made a lot of mistakes. At the
interval, Anderson had a commanding 11-5 lead. After the mid-game interval, the
Danish player maintained his momentum and won the first game easily at 21-13.
The second game was a much closer contest as Anderson took a
5-2 lead at the start. Sameer made a strong comeback to level the scores. Both players
took alternate points and kept under pressure with smashes. At the mid-game
interval, Anderson had a slender 11-10 lead. After the break, both players continued
to take alternate points till 19-19. Sameer Verma showed great fighting spirit
to win the second game at 21-19 to force the game into the decider.
In the final deciding game, Anderson showed his skills and
took a 5-2 lead. Sameer Verma played with aggression and leveled the scores at
5-5. It was an attacking display of badminton by Sameer who created pressure on
Danish player. At the interval, Sameer Verma took an 11-8 lead at the interval.
After the mid-game break, things looked for the Indian, but Anderson fought
back strongly. Both players took alternate points till 20-20. Anderson held his
nerves to win deciding game at 22-20 to move into the semi-finals.
Comments