New Delhi: When he stunned the Chinese superstar Lin Dan to a 21-17, 15-21, 21-18 victory in 78 minutes in the men’s singles quarter-final on Friday, Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia suddenly became the hot favorite to win this year’s India Open Super Series. Unfortunately, it was a sad end to the Indonesian on Saturday when he was forced to retire from the tournament after suffering a lower back injury when playing Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the men’s singles semi-final.
Tommy Sugiarto got off to a good start in the first set with 8-0 before Victor Axelsen stormed back to take the lead at 11-10. Axelsen was smelling victory when he held a 20-16 lead in the first set. But Sugiarto refused to give up and fought back brilliantly, saved four game points to clinch the first set with 24-22.
Axelsen quickly shrugged off the disappointment in the first set, leading the entire second set before Tommy Sugiarto retired from the match at 17-11.
Axelsen will play Kidambi Srikanth of Indina in the final on Sunday. Kidambi Srikanth defeated Xue Song of China 21-16, 21-13 in another men’s singles semi-final.
In women’s singles, the reigning world champion Carolina Marin, who was seeded second, lost to third seed Thai Ratchanok Intanon 21-19,21-23,22-20 in an epic three-set thriller that lasted 84 minutes. Meanwhile, India’s Saina Nehwal earned her India Open final berth with a 21-15, 21-11 semi-final triumph over Yui Hashimoto of Japan.
Denmark’s Mads Conrad-Petersen/Mads Pieler Kolding came out firing and continued their hot streak at the tournament after defeated their compatriots, top seeds Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen 25-23, 21-18 in 48 minutes. Mads Conrad-petersen/Mads Pieler Kolding will clash with Chai Biao/Hong Wei of China in the final.
The women’s doubles final will be played between top seeds Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi of Japan and second seeds Luo Ying/Luo Yu of China while Joachim Fischer Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen of Denmark will face Liu Cheng/Bao Yixin of China in the mixed doubles final.
