India shuttler Kidambi Srikanth stormed into the semi-final of the Singapore Open with a stunning 21-14, 21-16 win against the World No 8, Shi Yuqi of China on Friday.
Despite a close start between the two players, the 29th-ranked Srikanth never looked back after getting into the lead. The fifth seeded Yuqi could never find a foothold in the game in the first game, which Srikanth won by a comfortable 21-14 margin.
Yuqi got off to a much better start in the second game but yet again came second best once Srikanth got his free-flowing game going. At the break, the 23-year-old was holding on to a slender 11-10 lead and then reeled off points with consummate ease from there to stun his eight-ranked opponent.
Earlier in the day, another Indian, B Sai Praneeth also booked a place in the last four – it will be his maiden appearance in a Superseries semifinal. Praneeth will face South Korea’s Lee Dong Keun while Srikanth will face Indonesia’s Anthony Ginting.
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