Badminton
Japan Open 2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Prannoy and Satwik-Chirag knocked out in quarters; Lakshya reaches semis
Catch all the highlights of the Japan Open 2023 quarterfinals.
HS Prannoy, ranked tenth, is India's top-ranked men's singles player. (Photo credit: Badminton Photo/BAI)
HS Prannoy - the world no. 10 and India's highest-ranked men's singles player - conceded his lead to lose his quarterfinal match against world no. 1 Viktor Axelsen 21-19, 18-21, 8-21. The match lasted for an hour and 16 minutes. Axelsen will face Kodai Naraoka of Japan in the semifinals.
Earlier today, world no. 2 men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who were chasing their third consecutive BWF World Tour title at the Japan Open Super 750, lost a gruelling three-setter against Olympic champions Lee Yang and Wang Chin-Lin of Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals. The final result was 21-15, 23-25, 21-16 in Lee and Wang's favour.
Lakshya Sen, however, has had an easy outing against Koki Watanabe of Japan as he won his quarterfinal match in straight games (21-15, 21-19).
Live Updates
- 28 July 2023 9:21 AM GMT
Axelsen wins the 3rd game and pockets a tough match
Prannoy's return finds the net as Axelsen wins the third game 21-8. The Dane wins the match 19-21, 21-18, 21-8 coming from behind. He will face Kodai Naraoka of Japan in the semis.
- 28 July 2023 9:18 AM GMT
Game 3: Match point opportunity for Axelsen
Hard luck for Prannoy, he completely catches Axelsen off the guard but his shot lands outside of the court, giving Axelsen a match point opportunity. Axelsen leads 19-8.
- 28 July 2023 9:16 AM GMT
Game 3: Axelsen's shot goes wide
Point for Prannoy. He goes hard. Axelsen tries to return the smash, but it goes wide. It is 7-17 now.
But no respite for the Indian. Axelsen earns two more points. A flat smash and a net flick. He leads 18-7 in the decider.
- 28 July 2023 9:14 AM GMT
Game 3: Easy point for Axelsen
Axelsen makes it 16-6, taking a massive nine-point lead. He draws two points from superb net play.
- 28 July 2023 9:13 AM GMT
Game 3: Point for a Prannoy
Prannoy wins the rally. 6-13 now. Crisscrossing exchanges by both players. Prannoy wins a point by a flat flick in the far corner of Axelsen's right court. The Dane stretches but in vain.
- 28 July 2023 9:10 AM GMT
Game 3: Axelsen takes lead at interval
Axelsen marches to an 11-5 lead at the interval. He is moving swiftly now. A big match player. He was looking frustrated in the second game. He transformed himself quickly.
- 28 July 2023 9:09 AM GMT
Game 3: Prannoy wastes a point
Prannoy concedes a point. Axelsen is controlling the rally and winning points from it. Prannoy has a chance to reduce Axelsen's lead, but he hits the net in haste.
- 28 July 2023 9:07 AM GMT
Game 3: Axelsen takes control
Two fine points for Axelsen. He is now controlling the game. A point at the net then, a point from a smash now. Axelsen takes 8-5 in the decider.
- 28 July 2023 9:01 AM GMT
Game 3: Prannoy makes it 2-1
Crosscourt smash from Prannoy, Axelsen cannot return it. The Indian earns a 2-1 lead in the decider.
- 28 July 2023 9:00 AM GMT
Game 3: 1-all
Prannoy takes a point with a smash. Axelsen follows it with a flat smash after both players share a flurry of exchanges.
