Syed Modi International: Kashyap, Sindhu enter semifinals in contrasting styles

India’s top ranked men’s singles player Parupalli Kashyap overcame a stiff challenge from Malaysia’s 90th ranked Goh Soon Huat before prevailing 23-21, 8-21, 21-16 to reach the semifinals of the Syed Modi International Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament in Lucknow on Friday.

Kashyap – who is seeded second in the tournament – had to wage a grim battle in the opening game against his Malaysian opponent, who fought tooth and nail, giving nothing away on a platter.

The 20th ranked Indian did suffer a lapse in concentration in the second game, conceding ten points on the trot to Goh to drop the second game at 8-21.

However, Kashyap got his act together in the decider against an opponent, who was determined to make it a down-to-the-wire contest.

The Malaysian matched the Indian till the halfway mark before Kashyap won some crucial points to close out the final game at 21-16 in a contest that lasted for an hour and six minutes.

Meanwhile, PV Sindhu – India’ s second highest ranked women’s singles player after Saina Nehwal – also stormed into the semifinals.

The world number 24 made mincemeat of 144th ranked Indonesian Febby Angguni 21-13, 21-17 in a one-sided quarterfinal match.

India’s K Srikanth, who upset fourth seed and fellow Indian Ajay Jayaram in the quarter finals, crashed out, going down to 14th seed Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk of Thailand 16-21, 12-21.

The 69th ranked Indian, who has improved his game hugely in recent times, surging more than 30 spots in World Badminton Federation rankings, had a bad day in office against the 41st ranked Thailand opponent.

12th seed RMV and 39th ranked Gurusaidutt was also shown the exit door by third seed and 27th ranked Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia, losing 21-19, 20-22, 16-21.

Another Indian HS Pranoy, ranked 93rd in the world, lost to fifth seed and 42nd ranked Alamsyah Yunus of Indonesia 21-18, 10-21, 12-21.