Yonex Japan Open/ Victor Korea Open - Sept 2016

[sameerph]

Saina is injured and Sindhu is resting from these events after her Olympic silver performance. Also we do not seem to have anyone in doubles here.

So, it will be only mens singles which we have to look forward to here.

Today, Kashyap qualified for main draw.

[Q1] PARUPALLI Kashyap (IND,74) d. David OBERNOSTERER (AUT,70) 11-3 Retired
[Q2] PARUPALLI Kashyap (IND,74) d. (4) Anders ANTONSEN (DEN,43) 21-18 21-12

Main draw -

[R1] B. Sai Praneeth (IND,36) vs. NG Ka Long Angus (HKG,11)
[R1] Ajay JAYARAM (IND,19) vs. Sony Dwi KUNCORO (INA,31)
[R1] (8) KIDAMBI Srikanth (IND,13) vs. (Q) PARUPALLI Kashyap (IND,74)
[R1] H. S. Prannoy (IND,29) vs. Iskandar Zulkarnain ZAINUDDIN (INA,28)


Unfortunate to get Srikanth-Kashyap match-up in first round. Kashyap has won both their matches so far.

[suresh]

Sameer's draw has a problem with the name of Sai Praneeth's opponent. It should be

[R1] B. Sai Praneeth (IND,36) vs. NG Ka Long Angus (HKG,11)

[sameerph]

Thanks, Suresh. Updated in a hurry.

[sameerph]

Mixed results for us to start with -

[R1] B. Sai Praneeth (IND,36) l. NG Ka Long Angus (HKG,11) 21-9 21-23 10-21

[R1] Ajay JAYARAM (IND,19) d. Sony Dwi KUNCORO (INA,31) 21-19 23-21

Sad that Sai Praneeth could not capitalise on the facile first game win.

Ajay will meet the winner of Kashyap and Srikanth in second round. So, one quarter finalist is guaranteed but only 1 can go thru.

[sameerph]

Close wins for Srikanth (over Kashyap) and Prannoy.

[R1] (8) KIDAMBI Srikanth (IND,13) d. (Q) PARUPALLI Kashyap (IND,74) 14-21 21-14 23-21

[R1] H. S. Prannoy (IND,29) d. Iskandar Zulkarnain ZAINUDDIN (INA,28) 23-21 19-21 21-18

[suresh]

Prannoy will most probably meet second seed Victor Axelsen in the second round. Hope he can pull off a big upset to enter the QF.

[sameerph]

Yes, it is going to be Axelsen against Prannoy. All 3 of their previous meetings went to 3 games and in all 3 Prannoy lost 18-21 in the third. So, he got close each time. However, Axelsen's morale would be high after his Rio bronze performance.So, I am not picking an upset.

I expect Shrikanth to overcome Ajay as he has done in their past events meetings.

[sameerph]

Srikanth wins the first game 21-16 against and than Ajay retires. So, Srikanth is thru to the QF.

Prannoy's match against Axelsen is later in the afternoon.

[sameerph]

No upset as Prannoy lost in straight games.

[R2] H. S. Prannoy (IND,29) l. (2) Viktor AXELSEN (DEN,4) 16-21 19-21

Only Srikanth remains for us in the tournament.

[QF] (8) KIDAMBI Srikanth (IND,14) vs. Marc ZWIEBLER (GER,15) - Head to head 2-1 to Srikanth

[sameerph]

Srikanth lost in a close match.

[QF] (8) KIDAMBI Srikanth (IND,14) l. Marc ZWIEBLER (GER,15) 21-18 14-21 19-21

On to Korea open next week.

[arjun2761]

Somewhat disappointing loss. Hope he has a better run next week!

[sameerph]

Kashyap had to get thru 2 hard fought matches to qualify for main draw in Korea.

At Victor Korea Open

[Q1] PARUPALLI Kashyap (IND,107) d. Gyung Bo KO (KOR,815) 15-21 23-21 21-19
[Q2] PARUPALLI Kashyap (IND,107) d. Pannawit THONGNUAM (THA,100) 15-21 21-16 21-15

Main draw -

[R1] PRANNOY H. S. (IND,31) vs. Tzu Wei WANG (TPE,39) - Head to head 1-1
[R1] SAI PRANEETH B. (IND,35) vs. HSU Jen Hao (TPE,26) - Head to head 1-0 to Taiwanese player
[R1] Ajay JAYARAM (IND,18) vs. JEON Hyeok Jin (KOR,22) - Head to head 1-0 to Korean
[R1] (8) KIDAMBI Srikanth (IND,14) vs. WONG Wing Ki Vincent (HKG,20) - Head to head 1-1
[R1] (Q) PARUPALLI Kashyap (IND,107) vs. (4) TIAN Houwei (CHN,6) - Head to head 1-1

[R1] Tanvi LAD (IND,73) vs. Anna Thea MADSEN (DEN,41) - First match

All the matches look even ones. I would be happy if we get 4 out of 6 wins.

[sameerph]

All our matches go to 3 games but sadly we get only 2 out of 6 wins.

At Victor Korea Open

[R1] PRANNOY H. S. (IND,31) l. Tzu Wei WANG (TPE,39) 23-21 17-21 15-21
[R1] SAI PRANEETH B. (IND,35) d. HSU Jen Hao (TPE,26) 21-13 12-21 21-15
[R1] Ajay JAYARAM (IND,18) d. JEON Hyeok Jin (KOR,22) 23-21 21-18
[R1] (8) KIDAMBI Srikanth (IND,14) l. WONG Wing Ki Vincent (HKG,20) 10-21 24-22 17-21
[R1] (Q) PARUPALLI Kashyap (IND,107) l. (4) TIAN Houwei (CHN,6) 22-20 10-21 13-21

[R1] Tanvi LAD (IND,73) l. Anna Thea MADSEN (DEN,41) 18-21 21-13 18-21

Disappointing losses for both Prannoy and Srikanth. Kashyap fought valiantly against world #6 but it seemed did not have much left in the tank after playing 2 long qualifying matches yesterday.

Ajay and Sai Praneeth did well to win against the opponents against whom they had lost earlier.

Next,

[R2] SAI PRANEETH B. (IND,35) vs. (6) SON Wan Ho (KOR,8)

[R2] Ajay JAYARAM (IND,18) vs. HUANG Yuxiang (CHN,34)

[sameerph]

Praneeth losses but Ajay goes thru to the QF.

At Victor Korea Open

[R2] SAI PRANEETH B. (IND,35) l. (6) SON Wan Ho (KOR,8) 9-21 15-21

[R2] Ajay JAYARAM (IND,27) d. HUANG Yuxiang (CHN,34) 21-15 21-18

Next,

[QF] Ajay JAYARAM (IND,27) vs. LEE Hyun Il (KOR,20)

[sameerph]

End of Indian challenge here.

At Victor Korea Open

[QF] Ajay JAYARAM (IND,27) l. LEE Hyun Il (KOR,20) 23-25 14-21

So, 2 QF's in 2 weeks in these super series tournament for our players. Not good enough. Our men just seem to be missing that extra something which Saina or Sindhu has that has taken much ahead.