'%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)
Sai Praneeth was only Indian shuttler to progress into the semi-finals of New Zealand Open 2018 tournament played at Auckland on Friday.
The third-seeded of this tournament, Praneeth took 28 minutes to see off the 129th ranked player Niluka Karunaratne 21-7,21-9. He will face Jonatan Christie in the semi-finals tomorrow.
Sameer Verma fought valiantly in the quarterfinals against two-time Olympic Champion Lin Dan.
Despite having a big lead during the first game, the young Indian could not maintain his speed losing the first set 19-21.
Dan completely dominated Verma in the second game winning it 21-9 easily to progress into the semi-finals.
In the men’s doubles section, Indian pair of Manu Attri and Reddy were completely outplayed by the Thailand pair of B Issara and Phuangphuapet in two straight sets 10-21,15-21 to be knocked out of quarterfinals.
Good effort by Sameer Verma
The young Indian Verma struggled against Dan in the initial stages trailing by 4-10. Then Sameer made a strong comeback to take seven successive points, led 11-10 at the interval.
It was the Indian who was leading 18-14, then Lin Dan then showed why he is one of the greatest badminton players taking 7 points to win the first set 21-19
Dan dominated Verma in the second game right from start and won the game 21-9 to progress into the semi-finals.
Indian men's double pair of Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy were knocked out of the tournament in two straight games by Thailand B Issara and Phuganphuapet.
