Srikanth advances to Swiss Open semifinals, Rajawat and George out

The Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth showcased an impressive performance in the Swiss Open Super 300 tournament, advancing to the semifinals after defeating Chia Hao Lee of Chinese Taipei 21-10, 21-14 in the quarterfinals here on Saturday.Srikanth dominated the match from the start, establishing a commanding 7-1 lead early on and maintaining his momentum throughout both games before clinching the first game.

His consistent attack, comprising a mix of drops and smashes, enabled him to secure victory and secure a spot in the semifinal where he will face Lin Chun Yi of Chinese Taipei.

Unfortunately, Priyanshu Rajawat and Kiran George couldn't replicate Srikanth's success, as they suffered defeats in their respective men's singles matches. Priyanshu lost to Chou Tien Chen in straight games (15-21, 19-21), while Kiran was defeated by Rasmus Gemke (23-21, 17-21, 15-21).

In women's doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand faced disappointment with a straight-game defeat to Australia's Setyana Mapasa and Angela Yu.

The Indian pair struggled throughout the match, unable to catch up with their opponents, ultimately losing 14-21, 15-21.This loss is particularly significant as Treesa and Gayatri are currently ranked 14th in the Olympic Games qualification ranking, and it may impact their chances of qualifying for the Paris Olympics later this year.

Furthermore, in the context of doubles qualification for the Olympics, two pairs must be within the top 16 rankings by the end of April. Otherwise, the top-ranked pair within the world number 16 will secure the Olympic spot. (UNI)<>