Australian Open Badminton 2023: Rajawat knocks out Srikanth to set up Prannoy semis clash; Sindhu crashes out

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Sydney, August 4: Priyanshu Rajawat triumphed in the all-Indian quarterfinal clash against former world number 1 Kidambi Srikanth to reach the men's singles semi-final of the ongoing Australia Open Baminton 2023 at the State Sports Centre in Sydney on Friday (August 4).

The Orleans Masters 2023 champion, who is through to his first semifinal at BWF World Tour Super 500 event this year, defeated Srikanth in straight games 21-13, 21-8 in the quarter-final match that lasted for just 30 minutes on court 3.

The world no. 31 Indian will next face another compatriot Prannoy HS, who came from a game down to knock out top seed Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia by a scoreline of 16-21, 21-17, 21-14 in 73 minutes on court 1.

The all-Indian semifinal clash will take place on Saturday (August 5). The Malaysia Masters 2023 champion Prannoy has won the only previous meeting against his compatriot Rajawat so far.

While Prannoy and Rajawat progressed to keep India's challenge alive in the Australian Open 2023, two-time Olympic medallist Indian shuttler PV Sindhu crashed out of the women's singles competition following a straight games defeat earlier on Friday (August 4).

The top Indian shuttler, who had got the better of compatriots Ashmita Chaliha and Akarshi Kashyap in the opening two rounds, suffered a 12-21, 17-21 loss to fourth seed Beiwen Zhang of USA in 39 minutes on court 1.

In 10 past meetings, Sindhu had won six times against her opponent but she just couldn't get going against the 33-year-old Chinese-born American Zhang, who showed better control to come up trumps.

The 2019 World Champion Sindhu, who has been going through a lean patch since her recovery from an injury, making early exits, will next be in action at the 2023 BWF World Championships, scheduled to be held from August 21 to 27 in Copehagen, Denmark.