'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
PV Sindhu and Parupalli Kashyap stormed into the two singles finals of the Dr KL Garg- Syed Modi International Grand Prix Gold tournament in straight games today.
The two victories offset the disappointment Indian fans felt at Saina Nehwal withdrawing from her opening round match after holding match point. While Sindhu eased past Thailand’s Sapsiree Taerattanachani 21-12 21-14, Kashyap had to weather a strong fightback from Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto 21-18 23-21.
Kashyap seemed to have the match wrapped up with a 17-9 lead in the second game, but Sugiarto was tenacious and slowly clawed his way back. He equalised at 19 all – taking ten points, compared to just two from Kashyap, saved one match point, and even earned a game point of his own at 21-20. However, the top-ranked Indian kept his composure and won the next three rallies to enter the Grand Prix Gold final.
In the final on Sunday, Sindhu will take on Indonesia’s Lindaweni Fanetri, while Kashyap plays Tanongsak of Thailand. Lindaweni Fanetri overcame the challenge of the young Japanese Nozomi Okuhara 22-20 21-16, while Tanongsak was an easy winner over Yunus Alamsyah of Indonesia 21-14 21-17.
