Indonesia Open 2023 Semifinal, HIGHLIGHTS: Satwik-Chirag through to finals, Prannoy loses to Axelsen

While Prannoy’s campaign ends with a straight-games loss to Axelsen, it isn’t the case for Satwik-Chirag as the duo beat Korea’s Kang-Seo pair to reach its first Masters final. On Sunday, the Indian pair will face either Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik or Indonesia’s Pramudya Kusumawardana and Yeremia Rambitan in the summit clash.

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Smash down the line followed by a crosscourt kill, Axelsen ends the point and the match to reach the final.

Cross-court clear from Prannoy goes wide and gives Axelsen five match points.

Cross-court smash winner from Prannoy. However, this time Axelsen manages to challenge the call successfully.

Well, well, wel. Prannoy beats Axelsen in the battle of the net shots. Interesting.

Axelsen sprays the cross-court smash wide. Challenges the call but the original decision stands.

Great jump smash from Prannoy, gets the short lift from Axelsen, and finishes with a quick kill.

Four consecutive points for Prannoy. Lapse in concentration from Axelsen.

Great net play from Axelsen, Prannoy eventually lifts one long.

Axelsen’s lead back to seven points as Prannoy fails to send the shuttle over the net while going for a net shot.

Prannoy, with a bit of help from the net, ends Axelsen’s run of five straight points.

Stunning defending from Axelsen to keep the point going and it works as Prannoy sprays one lift wide. Seven-point lead at the mid-game interval for Axelsen.

Body smash from Axelsen to win his third straight point.

For once, Axelsen falters as he sends a smash down the line wide.

This time, Prannoy finishes the point with the smash down the line itself.

Strong smash down the line from Prannoy followed by a crosscourt kill. Keeps it a two-point game.

Axelsen wrongfoots Prannoy and finishes the point with a crosscourt drop shot.

Easy down-the-line smash from Axelsen to win the point.

Prannoy opens his account in the second game with a body smash.

Prannoy nets a backhand return. That’ll do it. Axelsen wins the opening game.

Axelsen stumbles but the error comes from Prannoy who nets a return. Five game points for the Dane.

Make that four in a row as Prannoy absolutely nails the crosscourt smash.

Three points on the trot for Prannoy. Making things interesting.

Axelsen moving closer to clinching the opening game. Saw the backhand return coming from Prannoy and killed it easily with a crosscourt shot.

This time, Prannoy gets a short backhand lift from Axelsen post a jump smash down the line and follows it up with a crosscourt net winner.

Prannoy, not able to break the Axelsen defense, goes for a crosscourt jump smash and ends up hitting it wide.

Superb drop shot from Axelsen. Prannoy unable to step in and reach the shuttle in time.

Brilliant point construction by Prannoy to set up the jump smash down the line. Axelsen manages to retrieve it but then, decides to cover the crosscourt return only to see Prannoy drive one past him. Prannoy ends the Dane’s run of four straight points.

Axelsen leads at the mid-game interval.

Prannoy equalises as he reads the direction of the shuttle as it lands out.

Prannoy falls inorder to return the shot but the shuttle falls further as it bounces off after hitting the net.

Prannoy makes Axelsen run from near the net to the end of the court, making it hard for him to receive it.

Prannoy hits one onto the net but it bounces and lands up in Viktor’s court and parity is restored.

Prannoy targets the empty space as he fients to make Viktor think he is hitting on the other side of the court but hits it where Viktor was standing earlier.

The shuttle goes wide off the sideline as Viktor reads it correctly

Prannoy hits one on the net straight away.

The No 1 seeded Dane leads 5-2 over the Indian.

The last time HS Prannoy faced Viktor Axelsen, the Indian triumphed 14-21, 21-17, 21-18 at the BWF World Tour Finals 2022 in a group match.

Chirag yet again slips but this time the shot aimed at him falls out.

Chirag slips and is unable to get up and hit.

Kang hits one out.

Chirag aims in between Kang’s feet, who is unable to retaliate.

Satwik falls down and gets up. However, it is Chirag who fails to execute his backhand.

A similar mistake is made by the Koreans who also fail to read the direction of the shuttle.

Both Satwik and Chirag leave the shuttle but it lands inside.

Satwik faults while receiving as he makes a move before his opponent serves.

Seo falls down yet plays despite sitting on the court, however, fails to connect after standing up.

Seo is unable to respond after being on the receiving end of the Indian smashes.

Indians take away five straight points as Seo is unable to come back from his previous shot to hit one near the net.

Back-to-back smashes by Satwik leaves the Koreans flustered and they falter.

The Indians defend well and are able to catch the Koreans off guard.

A rookie service mistake by the Indians. Seems like the pressure is getting better of them.

A fierce down the line smash leaves Seo unable to response.

Chirag seems to have slipped but Satwik fails to notice it and also misses the shuttle.

Satwik hits one close to Kang as the Korean misses and India ties game.

Chirag is unable to retaliate as the Koreans come in hard to reduce the gap.

After two smashes straight down the line, Kang goes for a cross court as Chirag is unable to connect with it.

The Koreans catch up but clash with eachother, with neither hitting the shot.

Koreans challenge a out call but are unsuccessful as the shuttle is seen to go wide off the backline.

Seo hits one onto the net after receiving a series of body smashes

In an attempt to deceive his opponent, Chirag goes for a drop shot disguised while jumping. However, the shuttle doesn’t go past the net.

Satwik seves, but Seo is unable to return it as the shuttle hits the net.

A fast paced flurry of shots near the net leave the Koreans no chance of receiving it.

While Seo hits a backhand, Kang receives a smash which he is unable to return.

Over enthusiatic Chirag Shetty hits one onto the net.

The Koreans make smart work as they do not connect with the shuttle which goes out.

Fast paced shots are exchanged, however, the Indians gain the upper hand.

Indians find gap on the other side of the court as the Koreans stand on the same side.

Indians make an effort to reduce the gap.

Seo attempts a jump smash, however is met with the net.

A 25-shot rally came to an end as Chirag flicked one outside in an attempt to use his backhand.

Satwik is left defending the Korean smashes as he is met with several ones close to his body.

Indians especially Chirag is facing problems in returning the Korean’s service.

A quick counterattack filled with consecutive smashes by Chirag triggered the Koreans to falter.

This time its Chirag who sits down in an attempt to play defense but ends up finding the net.

An unforced error by the Koreans as one finds the net.

Kang’s counter smash left Satwik unable to return using his backhand.

Satwik puts one outside after the the service.

Both the teams enter the court.

Satwik-Chirag holds a narrow 2-1 lead over the South Korean pair of Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae.

India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty shocked top seeds Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto to sail into the men’s doubles semifinals before HS Prannoy entered the last-four stage of men’s singles competition at the Indonesia Open in Jakarta on Friday.

Prannoy registered a 21-18, 21-16 win over Kodai Naraoka of Japan.

The seventh seeded duo of Satwik and Chirag then displayed a flawless game to outwit Indonesia’s Alfian and Adrianto 21-13 21-13 in 41 minutes.

Satwik and Chirag will play Koreans Min Hyuk Kang and Seung Jae Seo next.

In the final Indian match of the day, seventh seed Prannoy prevailed over Naraoka, seeded third, 21-18 21-16 to book his semifinal berth.

Prannoy will take on top seed Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the semifinals.

The live telecast of the Indonesia Open Super 1000 matches will be available on Sports 18 and the live streaming will be available on the JioCinema app and BWF’s YouTube Channel BWF TV.