BWF tournaments July 2023

[sameerph]

Very good win by both Srikanth over world no. 8 Chou against whom he had lost the last 5 matches and Prannoy over world no. 6 Li Shi Feng.

So, all Indian match there in second round and tomorrow we have an all Indian match in first round between Lakshya and Priyanshu.

[Sin Hombre]

Aakarshi gave a good fight to lose 17-21, 17-21 as well

Treesa Gayatri almost lost to the unheralded Japanese pair which is not a great sign.

Dhruv and Arjun are playing the 4th seeds tomorrow - unsure why they retired last week.

[sameerph]

So, all Indian match there in second round and tomorrow we have an all Indian match in first round between Lakshya and Priyanshu.

That match went all the way and Priyanshu had 2 match points which he could not covert and eventually Lakshya won 24-22 in the third game.

SatChi overcome 11th ranked Indonesian pair 21-13 in third game.

[rajitghosh]

Lakshya won a thriller against Priyanshu. Good that Priyanshu is emerging as our next bi hope. SatChi were stretched by an Indonesian pair but won at the end.

[rajitghosh]

Sindhu gets thashed.

[srini]

Lakshya moved into QF with 21-14 21-16 win over Kenta Tsuneyama of Japan. The last 5 straight points after tied at 16-16 in 2nd game was sublime.

[srini]

SatChi sleep walked into another QF with a 21-17 21-11 win over Danish opponents. Gayatri-Treesa lost a closely contested 23-21 21-19 in R16 to higher ranked (#7) Japanese pair. I think they are playing at Top-10 level now. They are the newest kids on the elite block, aged 20 both, are younger than all other double pairs ranked higher than them. I expect a break through year in next year or so for them like SatChi are having now.

[rajitghosh]

Prannoy faces Axelsen. A really tough one. Lakshya and Satchi have beatable opponents in the QF.

[sameerph]

Gayatri-Treesa lost a closely contested 23-21 21-19 in R16 to higher ranked (#7) Japanese pair. I think they are playing at Top-10 level now. They are the newest kids on the elite block, aged 20 both, are younger than all other double pairs ranked higher than them. I expect a break through year in next year or so for them like SatChi are having now.

Yes, I feel they are at the level where SatChi were before Tokyo Olympics. Hopefully, they will be at the level where SatChi are now by the time LA olympics 2028 comes along when they will be both 25 which is usually the peak for player.

[rajitghosh]

Lakshya moves into the SF but SatChi lose in 3 games. Fatigue?

[sameerph]

Yes, fatigue would have set in. Also they lost to Olympic champs. So, it was no easy match.

[sameerph]

Prannoy had a golden chance to upset Axelsen. He won the first game 21-19 and was up 7-1 in second game but Axelsen caught up and won the second game 21-18 and than thrashed Prannoy 21-8 in third game.

So, we have only Lakshya left in the SF. He will face the 9th ranked Indonesian Joanthan Christie in the SF.

[srini]

Saw Prannoy's match with Axelsen. Some service and line calls unsettled Axelsen when he was leading 17-12 in game 1 as he started complaining and was talking to umpire.Some unforced errors from Axelsen followed and Prannoy caught up with good game and some successful line call challenges. He carried the momentum into 2nd game. But Axelsen was stronger player and always had Prannoy's number. That's why i am thinking it will be beneficial if another younger player like either Priyanshu or Kiran make it to top2 with Lakshya from India.

[sameerph]

But Axelsen was stronger player and always had Prannoy's number. That's why i am thinking it will be beneficial if another younger player like either Priyanshu or Kiran make it to top2 with Lakshya from India.

But, Axelsen is a very dominant world #1 and has a number of most of the player. So, no shame for Prannoy to be losing to him in 3 games. Otherwise, Prannoy has been quite good against many of the top 10 player in last 1 year or so. It will be great if one of the younger ones overtake it. The only one I can see is Priyanshu who in recent weeks is showing that belongs to at least top 20 level. Kiran George is not really upto it, he did well in only 1 tournament. For Priyanshu too I think it will take time for him to come to level where Prannoy is currently.

[srini]

Right...no shame at all for Prannoy and none of the Indian juniors except Lakshya can match him right now. After Kento Momota era no one in the world including Chinese players are able to challenge Axelsen domination. But he is also 29 almost the peer of Srikanth and Prannoy and in singles no player so far has dominated for too long. So his domination may end soon and hopefully by one of the young Indian players