Five-time World champion Lin Dan suffered a shocking loss against eighth seed Tommy Sugiarto, while leading Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Sriaknth entered the semi-finals of the $275,000 Yonex Sunrise India Open Superseries on Friday.
Two-time Olympics champion Dan of China was stunned 17-21, 21-15, 17-21 in the quarter-finals by the World No.8 Sugiarto of Indonesia in an hour and 18 minutes at the Siri Fort Sports Complex.
World No.2 Saina beat Indonesia’s Hana Ramadhini 21-15, 21-12 in 40 minutes to advance to the last four stage along with Spaniard Carolina Marin. Reigning World champion Carolina overcame Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara 21-15, 17-21, 21-15 in an hour and 14 minutes.
This has been my best performance till now as I have played against Lin Dan thrice before but never won,” an overwhelmed Sugiarto said after the match.
Axelsen, who is seeded 6th in this tournament, will now face Super Dan-slayer Sugiarto in the semi-final.
“I know Lin Dan is not 100 percent fit right now, but still it would have been difficult to play against him in the semis. But playing Sugiarto is definitely not easy, he is in good form,” the 21-year-old from Denmark said.
