Badminton

All England: Prannoy goes down fighting

Prannoy’s exit means P.V. Sindhu is only Indian firm in race for the title.

Reuters
17 March, 2018 10:29 IST

India’s H.S. Prannoy went down to China's Huang Yuxiang.   -  AP

Reuters
17 March, 2018 10:29 IST

China's Huang Yuxiang beat India’s H.S. Prannoy 20-22, 21-16, 23-21 in the quarter-final on Friday. Pranoy’s exit means P.V. Sindhu has now emerged as the sole Indian contender for the coveted title. The ace shuttler sailed into the semis after beating Nozomi Okuhara of Japan 20-22, 21-18, 21-18 in the quarterfinal.

Lin Dan beat his old rival and defending champion Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia 21-16, 21-17 in the All England Open quarterfinals.

READ: All England: Sindhu sees off Okuhara to enter semis

The 34-year-old Lin, twice Olympic gold medallist, won six points in a row to take the first game and edged out Lee in a tight second to seal victory in 51 minutes and move closer to a seventh All England title.

Korean Son Wan-ho defeated Japan's Kenta Nishimoto 21-18, 9-21, 21-14 and China's Shi Yuqi overcame compatriot Chen Long 21-10, 21-17 to also reach the semifinals.