Paris: Indian shuttlers Kidambi Srikanth and P.V Sindhu have stormed into the semi-finals, but Malaysian mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing’s run in the French Open ended with a three-set loss at the USD 325,000 Super Series event on Friday.
Kidambi Srikanth, who won the Denmark Open title last Sunday, saw off China’s Shi Yuqi 8-21, 21-19, 21-9 in a one hour match. Prior to Friday’s victory, the Indian had beaten Shi in the quarter-finals of Singapore Open in April, and in the semi-finals of Australian Open in June. Srikanth will take on compatriot H. S. Prannoy next.
In women’s singles, P. V. Sindhu had the match in control as she notched up a quarter-final victory over Chen Yufei of China 21-14, 21-14. The No. 2 seed Sindhu will play No. 5 seed Akane Yamaguchi on Saturday.
Women’s singles No. 1 seed Tai Tzu Ying managed to maintain her bid for the French Open title as she secured the 32-minute win with a dominant display against last week’s Denmark Open Champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand, clinching the quarter-final 21-17, 21-12. Tai will battle He Bingjiao of China for a place in the final.
In mixed doubles, Malaysia’s interest in the mixed doubles fizzled out after No. 8 seeds Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing were beaten by Olympic champions and No. 4 seeds Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia 19-21, 21-14, 21-12 in 64 minutes.
Ahmad/Natsir will meet Zhang Nan/Li Yinhui of China in the semi-finals.
