Lucknow: Malaysia’s World No. 19 women’s doubles pair Chow Mei Kuan/Lee Meng Yean and India’s World No. 9 women’s singles player Saina Nehwal have entered the final of Syed Modi International Championships.
Facing No. 2 seeds Della Destiara Haris/Rizki Amelia Pradipta of Indonesia in the semi-finals, Chow/Lee lost their first set 14-21. Chow/Lee almost blew the second set when they squandered a 14-5 lead to let the Indonesians overtook them by 17-16. Fortunately, the Malaysian pair held their nerves and stepped up a gear to force a decider by winning the second 21-19.
Haris/Pradipta were forced to retire due to injury when Chow/Lee were leading 16-9 in the decider.
The Malaysian pair will take on local favorites and No. 4 seeds Ashwini Ponnappa/Reddy N. Sikki in the final.
Meanwhile, Ashwini Ponnappa/Reddy N. Sikki overcame Russia’s No. 5 seeds Ekaterina Bolotova/Alina Davletova 21-18, 21-16 on Saturday.
In the women’s singles semi-final, No. 2 seeds Saina Nehwal bounced back from a set down to beat Ruselli Hartawan of Indonesia 12-21, 21-7, 21-6.
Nehwal is set to take on No. 4 seed Han Yue of China in the final.
Han Yue, on the other hand, defeated compatriot and the London Olympic Champion Li Xuerui 21-15, 19-21, 21-9 in another women’s singles semi-final.
India’s No. 8 seeds men’s pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty survived a semi-final scare by pulling off a huge upset to down No. 5 seeds Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen of Denmark 22-20, 25-23 in 48 minutes. The Indian pair is set to clash with No. 2 seeds Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto of Indonesia next.
India’s Sameer Verma blasted off 10 straight points at 10-12 to jump to 20-12 and then sealed the opening game in the men’s singles semi-finals against Indonesian Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo 21-13. However, he lost the second set to the Indonesian player 17-21. In the decider, Sameer seemed to be in complete control as he jumped to a 11-3 lead and comfortably secure his place in the final by winning the third set 21-8. Verma will meet No. 6 seed Lu Guangzu of China for the men’s singles crown.
