Sai Praneeth marches into Japan Open Semifinals

Sai Praneeth marched into the semifinals of the Japan Open, after easing past Indonesia's Tommy Sugiarto, 21-12, 21-15, in the quarterfinals today. Praneeth ended up both sets in 36 minutes and won a total of 42 wins, compared Sugiarto's 27. It will be the second semifinal appearance in 2019 for the 26-year-old. In the semifinal, Praneeth will take on top-seeded Japan's Kento Momota, who defeated Indonesia's Anthony Sinisuka Ginting 21-13 20-22 21-15. Praneeth will aim to avenge his defeat against Momota in the Singapore Open in April this year. Till now, they have faced four times and share an equal win margin. The World No. 23 had earlier registered a comfortable straight-game win over Japanese shuttler Kanta Tsuneyama, to set up a clash in the quarterfinals. Ace Indian shuttler P V Sindhu bows out to Akane Yamaguchi in the quarterfinals of the 750 Japan Open by 18-21, 15-21. With this win, Yamaguchi becomes the world no. 1 shuttler in the BWF list. This was Sindhu's second defeat in the same week to Yamaguchi whom she met on Sunday in the final of the Indonesia Open concluded last week.