Malaysia Open: PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth lose in semi-finals

PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth had to face agonising defeats in respective Malaysian Open semi final clashes. PV Sindhu lost 15-21, 21-19, 11-21 to Tai Tzu Ying who holds the world number one ranking. Whereas Kidambi Srikanth failed to clinch final berth as Japanese Kento Momota defeated the Indian 13-21, 13-21. With the elimination of these two, India are apparently out of the Malaysian Open.

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It was Kidambi Srikanth’s sixth defeat to Momota in nine encounters whereas Sindhu lost for the nine time to Tai Tzu. It was even Stevens between the two before Tai Tzu Ying opened up with a 9-6 lead. Sindhu came back strong but eventually Tai Tzu led 11-9 when she showed great precision punching one accurately. With a similar error towards the back end of game one, Tai Tzu Ying got the advantage.

The next game was even more intriguing when the Chinese re surged from a 5-0 deficit and went onto make it 19-18 in her favor. But Sindhu took advantage when her opponent went wide and it all came up to the last game. The Chinese won the third game 11-21 with ease and marched in finals of the Malaysian Open.

It was all over for India in the men’s semi final as Kidambi Srikanth had an off day with his stroke play. He did well to indulge in long rallies but faltered every time he made a finishing attempt. The Japanese dominated throughout the Malaysian Open semi final and made it to the finals.