Defending champion P Kashyap bowed out while top seed K Srikanth entered the semifinals but it was the stunning win of doubles pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar over their world number eight opponents from Denmark that was the highlight of the day at Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament here today.
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 here.
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 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.
Pranaav and Akshay dished out sweet revenge early in the day when they sent the third seeds packing in men's doubles.
The World No. 36 duo, who had lost to the Denmark pair during the World Championship last year, fought back from 9-15 and 18-20 behind in the opening game to earn an early advantage.
In the second game, the Indians lead 4-2 initially but Conrad-Petersen and Kolding turned the tables and marched ahead with gaint steps to roar back into the contest.
In the decider, Pranaav and Akshay opened up a 11-9 lead but their rivals were in control at 14-12 but in the end it was the Indians who had the last laugh.
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"My game plan was not working in the first game but I changed my strategy after the break to move ahead. We know each other's game since we train together at Gopichand academy. He also had some issues with his shoulder. I am just happy I could win my first GPG title," Sameer said.
Reigning Olympic silver medallists and top seeds, Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Christinna Pedersen from Denmark knocked out India's newly formed pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy 21-16 21-18 in a 38-minute final to clinch the women's doubles crown.
Top seeds Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen, the silver medallist at London Olympics, meanwhile, clinched the men's doubles title after defeating Chinese Taipei's Lu Ching Yao and Yang Po Han, seeded eighth, 21-14 21-15 in another one-sided summit clash.
