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Badminton

2019 India Open Badminton Live: Day 6

2019 India Open Badminton Live: Day 6
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By

Santhosh

Published: 31 March 2019 10:08 AM GMT
Welcome to The Bridge's live coverage of Day 6 where India's only finalist Kidambi Srikanth battles to become champion of Yonex Sunrise India Open:
FINAL SCORE : Axelsen (DEN) defeats Srikanth (IND) 21-7; 22-20 And there is the winner. Axelsen is the 2019 Indian Open champion. Takes the set 22-20. A little bit of luck in the net drop which gifts Axelsen a game point. Score 21-20. Axelsen manages to get back into the game despite Kidambi having two match points as he comes into close 20-20. Axelsen has that clutch mentality when under pressure which Srikanth lacks and fails to convert his game points. Srikanth edges closer to earn match point. Score 19-17. Brilliant from Srikanth as he manages to pull two points back with a bit of patient play and leads 18-16 now. Axelsen uses his height to advantage as he pushes Srikanth to the back hand and waits in the centre as he easily picks a net drop from the return which is not possible for players who aren't tall. Axelsen leads 16-15. Srikanth pulls up a smash miraculously with all his might as he levels up the score and is level with Axelsen again. Score 15-15. Srikanth pulls one now and leads the game for the first time ever in this set as he leads 14-13. Now it's turning into a game as Srikanth gives his all and retrieves a tight net drop and levels the game 12-12 to a raucous reception from the home crowd. Game on ! Srikanth manages to pull 3 consecutive points for the first time in the whole game as he bridges the gap to 10-9, but Axelsen pulls a fierce smash out of his kitty which Kidambi fails to return as we head into the break 11-9. Srikanth hasn't been able to control the pace of shuttle and has been hitting the lofted returns wide time after time. Atleast 3rd time this set and over 10 times the whole game. Axelsen leads the game 10-6. Srikanth maintains the net play and forces Axelsen into a error, but the margin is still wide. Axelsen leads 8-5. Pushed by the home crowd, Srikanth engages in some attacking play and forces Axelsen into hitting it wide and tries to bridge the gap. Axelsen leads 6-4. The second set takes off from where it left as Axelsen continues with ease and its been a one dimensional game so far. Axelsen leads 3-0. The home crowd is in a state of shock due to the lifeless performance from Srikanth and the local lad himself looks shell shocked. Make that 10 consecutive points as Axelsen takes the 1st set 21-7 in just under 11 min with very little work. Srikanth is totally out of rhythm and has failed to return any balls post break, most of them pretty easy and in reaching distance of him. Axelsen has taken 7 consecutive points as he races to a 18-7 lead. Axelsen switches gear from 8-7 and forces a string of attacking netplay & final smash to perfection as he races to a 11-7 lead heading into the break. Both the players have been returning lot of their loft balls quite wide and it's unsure if it's due to the shuttle or air medium inside the court affecting the flight. A pacy start to the game so far as both indulge in attacking play and are switching serves to each other every point. Scores are level at 5-5. Both players are on court now to raucous reception from the crowd as both players are famous in this side of the world. Srikanth has an equal H2H against Axelsen, though both of them haven't played each other in 2 years. Viktor Axelsen has been in terrific form over the course of last 2 months and is now up against home crowd favourite Kidambi Srikanth.

Kidambi Srikanth remained on course for a second title by entering the final at the Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2019, a BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament, Yesterday. The 2015 men’s singles champion was made to work hard by the 30th ranked Huang Yuxiang before he could pull off a gritty 16-21, 21-14, 21-19 win in 1 hour 4 minutes.

Srikanth set up a rematch of 2015 final with the 2017 champion Viktor Axelsen, who staved off a late resistance from Parupalli Kashyap for a 21-11, 21-17 win.

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