Prannoy upsets Chen Long to enter Indonesia Open semis

Indian shuttler H.S. Prannoy ousted reigning world and Olympic champion Chen Long of China to enter the semi-finals of the Indonesia Open Superseries Premier here on Friday.

One day after knocking out multiple world and Olympic medallist Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, the unseeded Prannoy stunned Long 21-18, 16-21, 21-19 in a match lasting an hour and 15 minutes.

Pronnoy played aggressively from the start and never allowed Log to dictate the terms. The Chinese, however looked rusty as he is coming into the tournament after a break. Long struggled with his movement and conceded the first game 18-21.

He sealed the second game, riding on his deft net-game. But Prannoy then again got back to his very best and snatched the third by forcing Long to retrieve from difficult and wide positions.

Prannoy joined compatriot Kidambi Srikanth in the semi-finals as the latter got the better of Chinese Taipei's Tzu Wei Wang 21-15, 21-14 in 37 minutes.

In the semi-finals, Prannoy and Srikanth will meet Japanese qualifier Kazumasa Sakai and South Korean second seed Wan Ho Son respectively.

Sakai stunned England's Rajiv Ouseph 13-21, 21-16, 21-10, while Son bested Chinese Taipei's sixth seed Chou Tien Chen 21-15, 21-17.

--IANS

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