Praneeth to face Chen Long in SFs of BWF Swiss Open 2019

Speed Post News Network

Patna : Top seed and World No 2 in Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings Shi Yuqi, 23, China, and World No 22 B Sai Praneeth, 26, India, entered the semi-finals of Yonex Swiss Open 2019, a BWF World Tour level 300 tournament, at St Jakobshalle Basel, Basel, Switzerland, on March 15, 2019, night.

Yuqi, a silver medallist at 2018 World Championships at Nanjing, China, beat World No 29 Mark Caljouw, 24, Netherlands, 21-17, 21-9 in 32 minutes in the quarter-finals on March 15 night. Yuqi won 42 rallies to 26 by Caljouw. Yuqi also won 7 consecutive points to 4 by Caljouw. Yuqi now leads Caljouw 2-0 head to head.

Praneeth beat World No 52 Lucas Corvee, 25, France, 21-13, 21-11 in 35 minutes in the quarter-finals. Praneeth won 42 rallies to 24 by Corvee. He also won 5 consecutive points to 3 by Corvee. Praneeth now leads Corvee 2-0 head to head. Praneeth will face reigning Olympic champion and World No 5 Chen Long, 30, China, in the semi-finals.

World No 8 Anthony Sinisuka Jinting, 22, Indonesia, defeated World No 16 Lin Dan, 35, China, a two-time former Olympic champion and five-time world champion, in three-games 14-21, 21-8, 21-11 in 59 minutes in the quarter-finals. Jinting won 56 rallies in the match to 40 by Dan. Jinting won 8 consecutive points to 3 by Lin Dan. Jinting and Dan are now locked 2-2 head to head. Jinting will face Shi Yuqi in the semi-finals.