Lin Dan (CHN)[8] beat Kashyap Parupalli (IND) 21-17, 20-22, 21-14
The Chinese and Indian played a chess-like match, using every stroke of their arsenal as well as checking the quality of each other’s favourite moves.
Twice Olympic champion Lin sporadically displayed this signature cross court smashes from both directions and, importantly, good athleticism to equal Parupalli’s.
Lin built a healthy lead from the slight dip in concentration of Parupalli’s at the beginning of the rubber. Thereafter, Lin’s consistent solid quality on good lengths sealed their contest.
Anthony Ginting (INA)[2] beat Sai Praneeth B (IND) 25-23, 21-9
Their’s was a final’s worthy opening game, filled with elevation and regular adjustment to new tactics by the other.
Praneeth would leap to cut off shuttles rather than smash them, knowing this was the best way to steal time from Ginting’s fast reactions. He also lifted slightly too high for the Indonesian to jump and cut them off himself.
Had it not been for Ginting adjusting to the challenge and also daring to play back net shots with a net reply, Praneeth would have been one game ahead. Ginting took the match in straight games before Praneeth could find his second wind.
Michelle Li (CAN)[8] beat Aya Ohori (JPN) 18-21, 21-13, 22-20
Michelle Li came back from a game down for a second consecutive day. Both ladies displayed their athletic best, with the pace mainly instigated by Aya Ohori and Li willing to participate in these stakes.
Many of the best points were their forehand smash and retrieve battles which means down the same line as it’s a left hander against a forehander. Both dug deep into the court to bring back shuttles that had gone already gone past.
On match point Ohori who’d made a valiant comeback struck a straight smash wide of the sideline.
Busanan Ongbamrungphan (THA) beat Li Xuerui (CHN)[7], 18-21, 22-20, 21-6
World #23 Busanan Ongbamrungphan removed seventh seeded London Olympic champion Li Xuerui.
Both women decided to play a physical match. Today, Li was very willing to move as much as move her opponent around which is not always the case. The Chinese sentimental favourite was on the verge of securing the match in straight games and spent all her hopes and energy attempting to.
Nitchaon Jindapol (THA) beat PV Sindhu (IND)[3] 21-19, 21-18
2013 Australian Open runner-up Nitchaon Jindapol was the undoing of Rio Olympic silver and twice World Championship silver medallist PV Sindhu.
Jindapol was both prepared to do the homework and legwork involved for such a significant achievement. Sindhu’s smashes were regularly counter-attacked and the Thai pushed her opponent to stretch as much as she was being pressured to.
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