Sindhu seals semis berth; Srikanth crashes out

PV Sindhu cruised into the semis to keep India's campaign alive at the Dubai World Super Series Final.

New Delhi, December 14: Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu has assured herself a semi-final spot at the Dubai World Superseries Finals on Thursday (December 14) after registering a second straight Group A win. Fourth seed Sindhu defeated eighth seed Sayako Sato of Japan in straight games 21-13, 21-12 and jumped to top of the table.

In a match which lasted just 36 minutes, Sindhu was in her elements and gave no room to Sato in the entire contest.

Sindhu will play another Japanese, Akane Yamaguchi, in her final group match on Friday (December 15). Yamaguchi, who is the top seed in the tournament, has already booked her spot in last four, so Friday's remaining Group A matches are meaningless in terms of next stage qualification. But the winner of the Sindhu-Yamaguchi match will finish at the top of the group.

Earlier, Kidambi Srikanth slumped to his second consecutive defeat after losing to Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien Chen in straight games, crashing out of the Superseries Finals.

Even though Srikanth still has a match left in Group B, he virtually has no chance of making the next stage.

Srikanth, who suffered a defeat to World No. 1 and defending champion Victor Axelsen in his opening match on Wednesday (December 13), failed to improve upon his game and went down 18-21, 18-21 in the $1 million event.

World No. 7 Taiwanese took 43 minutes to stun the fourth ranked Indian in a Group B men's singles match.

Srikanth will face All England Open finalist Shi Yugi of China on Friday in his last and final match of Group B.

Shi Yuqi, who had defeated Chou in his opening match on Wednesday, eked out a 13-21, 21-18, 21-17 win over World No. 1 and defending champion Viktor Axelsen on Thursday to top Group B.

The in-form Shi Yuqi will be hoping to beat Srikanth also, but even if the Indian manage to get the better of the World No. 8 Chinese in straight games, it would not be possible for him to make the cut.

Whoever between Axelsen and Chou wins on Friday, will advance to the knockouts as the second player from Group B after Shi Yuqi.

Srikanth on Thursday failed to bring out his top game again as he lagged behind from the very beginning.