One of the fastest improving men’s singles shuttlers from India — HS Prannoy, will fancy his chances against twice Olympic champion Lin Dan, a week after he accounted for World No. 2 Jan O Jorgensen in New Delhi.
Having hit a career-high of World No. 17 this week, Prannoy who meets the left-handed Chinese legend in Round 2 of the Malaysian Super Series, has the opportunity to emulate K Srikanth who came into the limelight after scalping Super Dan in China last year.
Dan, who’s not quite been his imposing former self after the knee injury from six months ago, has looked vulnerable recently, going down to Indonesian Tommy Sugiarto last week at Siri Fort. The two have never met prior to this clash, but it would rank as one of the most important matches of Prannoy’s career to test both his technical ability and fitness against one of the world’s finest players.
This last fortnight has been a top phase for India’s men’s singles shuttlers, with three Indians finding themselves in the Top 20. Prannoy’s is the latest addition to the pack and he boasts of wins in the last one year over Sony Dwi Kuncoro, Wing Ki Wong and Darren Liew, apart from the entire top crop of Indians.
He’s played the other Chinese Chen Long and Du Pengyu earlier, but is yet to register a win over them. He will start as an underdog in Thursday’s clash, but will back himself to put out a good show.
Kashyap shines
Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap also advanced to the second round of the men’s singles. World No.13 Kashyap got the better of South Korean Lee Dong Keun 21-15, 11-21, 21-14 in an hour and 11 minutes contest, after Prannoy defeated Ireland’s Scott Evans 22-20, 21-18 in 40 minutes. Kashyap faces current World No 1 Chen Long.
Star Indian women’s doubles combo of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa prevailed over Indonesians Devi Tika Permatasari and Keshya Nurvita Hanadia 21-14, 18-21, 21-16 in a hard-fought 48 minutes battle. However, Indian men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy went down 11-21, 17-21 to the Indonesian duo of Andrei Adistia and Hendra Aprida Gunawan in half an hour.
Saina, Srikanth advance
Earlier, newly-crowned India Open champions, Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth continued their rampaging international run, notching up contrasting victories to enter the second round of the $ 500,000 Malaysia Open Super Series Premier.
Set to be crowned the World No.1 on Thursday, Saina hardly broke a sweat as she dumped Maria Febe Kusumastuti of Indonesia 21-13, 21-16 in women’s singles after World No. 4 Srikanth edged out England’s Rajiv Ouseph 10-21, 21-15, 22-24 in men’s singles. The Olympic bronze-medallist, Saina will next take on a Chinese qualifier Yao Xue even as Srikanth set up a clash with World continued…
