Calgary, Canada: Indian badminton stars PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen displayed exceptional form as they secured spots in the semi-finals of the women’s and men’s singles events, respectively, at the Canada Open 2023 BWF Super 500 tournament on Friday.
PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist and former world champion, dominated her quarterfinal match against China’s Gao Fang Jie, ranked 45th in the world. Sindhu triumphed with a convincing scoreline of 21-13, 21-7, earning a well-deserved place in her third semi-final of the year. The Indian shuttler reached the final of the Spain Masters BWF Super 500 event in April but is still in pursuit of her first title of the season.
In the semi-finals scheduled for Saturday, Sindhu will face her arch-rival and reigning world champion, Akane Yamaguchi of Japan. Sindhu, currently ranked 15th in women’s singles, holds a 14-10 advantage in head-to-head encounters against the top-ranked Yamaguchi. However, the Japanese shuttler emerged victorious in their most recent clash during the first round of the Singapore Open last month, adding an intriguing layer of anticipation to their upcoming showdown.
Meanwhile, Lakshya Sen, ranked 19th in the world, showcased his skill and resilience in a hard-fought quarterfinal match against Belgium’s Julien Carraggi, ranked 62nd. Sen secured victory with a final score of 21-8, 17-21, and 21-10, propelling him to his second semi-final appearance in 2023.
The reigning Commonwealth Games champion in men’s singles, Lakshya Sen, will face Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto, ranked 11th in the world, for a chance to compete in the final. The two players have previously faced each other twice, with one victory each, making their upcoming encounter even more intriguing.
Although Lakshya Sen has participated in 12 tournaments this year, he has yet to reach a final. The semi-finals present a crucial opportunity for him to showcase his abilities and strive for his first title of the season.
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