Arjun-Shlok in semifinals of Vietnam Open

Rising Indian doubles pair of Arjun M.R. and Ramchandran Shlok today advanced to the semifinals of the Vietnam Open Grand Prix with a thrilling three-game win over Thailand combo of Tinn Isriyanet and Kittisak Namdash here.

The fifth seeded Indian pair, who had lost to the Thai duo at the Thailand Open, won 21-13, 18-21, 21-13 in a match that lasted 45 minutes. They will take on either Indonesian pair of Muhammad Fachrikar and Reza Dwi Cahyo Purnomo or third seeded Liao Min Chun and Su Cheng Heng of Chinese Taipei.

Among other Indians in the fray, fast-rising Lakshya Sen suffered a narrow 17-21, 23-21, 10-21 to Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in a men’s singles match that lasted an hour and five minutes.

In the women’s singles, Ruthvika Shivani Gadde lost 21-18, 15-21, 8-21 to Indonesian third seed Dinar Dyah Ayustine to also bow out of the tournament.