In a thrilling display of badminton prowess, India’s top shuttlers P. V. Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, and H. S. Prannoy have set the Australian Open BWF Super 500 tournament ablaze, securing their places in the quarterfinals with mesmerising performances on August 3. With fans at the edge of their seats, the action-packed day witnessed contrasting victories, jaw-dropping upsets, and rising stars leaving a trail of brilliance.
The unstoppable P. V. Sindhu, who has been on a rollercoaster ride this season, came out with guns blazing as she dominated her compatriot Aakarshi Kashyap with an emphatic 21-14 21-10 victory in the women’s singles second round.
Armed with a new personal coach, Malaysia’s Muhammad Hafiz Hashim, Sindhu is on a mission to conquer new heights. Her next challenge awaits in the form of the formidable Beiwen Zhang of the USA, in what promises to be a clash of titans.
Men’s singles saw a double triumph for India as both Kidambi Srikanth and H. S. Prannoy showcased their flair and determination. Srikanth, like a hurricane, swept past Li Yang Su of Chinese Taipei with a commanding 21-10 21-17 win, setting his sights on the ultimate glory.
Meanwhile, Prannoy, proved his mettle in a gruelling one hour and 14 minutes’ battle against Chinese Taipei’s Yu Jen Chi, eventually securing a thrilling 21-19 21-13 victory.
Priyanshu Rajawat, the rising star of Indian badminton, continued his dream run, fighting tooth and nail to overcome Chinese Taipei’s Tzu Wei Wang in a nail-biting contest that lasted for 59 minutes. Rajawat’s never-say-die attitude and raw talent have earned him a well-deserved spot in the quarterfinals, where he will be an exciting contender to watch.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Indian shuttlers. Mithun Manjunath, who had previously stunned the world with his victory over Singapore’s Kean Yew Loh, fought valiantly but fell short against Malaysia’s Zii Jia Lee in a gripping three-set battle.
Kiran George also faced a formidable challenge, going up against Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia, who proved his class in a straight-games victory.
As the tournament progresses, the stage is set for captivating matchups in the quarterfinals. Prannoy’s encounter with the indomitable Ginting promises to be a fiery showdown, while the seasoned Srikanth and the fearless Rajawat will lock horns in an all-Indian thriller.
In the women’s doubles category, the Indian duo of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela fought hard but faced defeat at the hands of Japan’s Mayu Matsumoto, and Wakana Nagahara, in a close-fought battle.
With the Australian Open being the last event before the highly anticipated World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, every moment on the court is charged with intensity and excitement.
As the players strive to earn precious ranking points in this BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament, they leave no stone unturned to etch their names in the annals of badminton history.