Syed Modi International: Sourabh Verma advances to semifinals, Kidambi bows out

Indian shuttler Sourabh Verma, who was a winner at two Super 100 events in Hyderabad and Vietnam, defeated three-time World Junior champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in what was a thriller quarter-final match 21-19, 21-16 of the Syed Modi International Badminton tournament in Lucknow.

In the other singles match of the day, shuttler Rituparna Das triumphed against compatriot Shruti Mundada 24-26, 21-10, 21-19 to progress into the semi-final stage scheduled to be held on Saturday. Rituparna has advanced to only one final this year when she finished as the runner-up in the Dubai International Challenge.

In the other match of the day, Kidambi Srikanth could not produce his best and went down to former World No.1 Son Wan Ho of Korea 18-21, 19-21 in the Super 300 tournament. World No. 12 Srikanth, who had lifted the title in 2016, advanced to the quarterfinal stage after registering a thrilling 18-21, 22-20, 21-16 win over unseeded Indian Parupalli Kashyap.

In the women's doubles event, the young duo of Simran Singhi and Ritika Thaker lost to a formidable German pair Linda Efler and Isabel Herttrich 7-21, 16-21. Both Simran and Ritika entered the quarterfinal stage after beating Indian counterparts Riya Mookerjee and Anura Prabhudesai 21-12 21-15 in a span of just 33 minutes.