World No 16 HS Prannoy was left to rue an inexplicable error late in the third game of his All England Open quarter-final against China’s Huang Yuxiang as the Indian lost 22-20, 16-21, 21-23 after an hour and 17 minutes.
With the scores tied at 20-20 in the third game, Huang was on the floor and all Prannoy had to do was get the shuttle across the net but his smash went into the net. Prannoy managed to level it to 21-21 again but Huang went on to win the next two points to seal a memorable win.
The 42nd-ranked Chinese also secured a semi-final clash against compatriot and legend Lin Dan, who beat his career-long rival and defending champion Lee Chong Wei in straight games in their quarter-final.
Lin, 34, beat the 35-year-old Lee 21-16, 21-17, though their light-footed movements and brilliantly varied stroke-play would have made it impossible for outsiders to guess their ages.
Lee attacked more than usual to try to nullify the attacking threat of a freshly motivated Lin, and managed to squeeze in front at 16-15 in the first game and 13-10 in the second.
But Lin showed just why he has made himself many people’s unofficial favourite for his seventh All-England title, making brilliant surges during the most crucial phases of both games and finishing them off quickly.
Last year’s season-ending Dubai World Superseries Finals winner Akane Yamaguchi beat Olympic champion Carolina Marin 21-15, 21-18. Yamaguchi was fast, tenacious, and clever at getting the match played where it suited her, in the mid-court and forecourt.
Yamaguchi will now play PV Sindhu, the fourth-seeded Indian, who reversed the outcome of the women’s singles final at the World Championships in Glasgow in August by recovering from a four-point final game deficit against Nozomi Okuhara, the seventh seeded Japanese, to win 20-22, 21-18, 21-18. Yamaguchi and Sindhu had clashed in the Dubai final in December, where the Japanese had come out on top after a gruelling match
The other women’s semi-final will be between Tai Tzu-ling, the top-seeded titleholder from Taiwan and Chen Yufei, the eight-seeded Chinese player.
With inputs from AFP
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!