Defending champion P Kashyap bowed out while top seed K Srikanth entered the semi-finals but it was the stunning win of doubles pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar over their World No 8 opponents from Denmark that was the highlight of the day at Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament, in Lucknow, on Friday.
World No 9 Srikanth had to dug deep in his reservoir to survive a scare from Goh Soon Huat of Malaysia in another men's singles match. In the end of the 76-minute duel, Srikanth eked out a 21-17, 18-21, 24-22 win over Goh. The top seeded Indian will next take on 11th seed Thai Boonsak Ponsana.
Men's doubles pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar set the tone for the day when they edged out third seeds Mads Conrad-Petersen and Mads Pieler Kolding of Denmark 22-20, 11-21, 23-21 in a match that lasted an hour and seven minutes.
Commonwealth Games champion Kashyap, who is coming from an injury, went down fighting in men's singles against China's Huang Yuxiang 16-21, 21-18, 15-21 in the last match of the day at the BBD U P Badminton Academy.
Commonwealth Games silver medallists Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa prevailed over Thailand's Puttita Supajirakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai 23-21, 21-17 in a 45-minute women's doubles battle. The sixth seeds will meet second seeded Koreans Jung Kyung Eun and Shin Seung Chan in the final four.
However, it was the end of the giant-killing run of young Harsheel Dani as he lost 14-21, 11-21 to China's Shi Yuqi in another men's singles match.
