Ajay Jayaram produced an excellent performance by defeating Denmark Anders Antonsen in the semi-final of the Dutch Open Grand Prix Gold event just finished a few minutes ago. It was a brilliant match by Jayaram who won the first set, losing the second and winning the deciding set to progress into the finals of the tournament.
In the first game, the Denmark started off well taking a 4-1 lead. After that, Jayaram took 3 successive points to reduce the gap to 4-5. Jayaram made few mistakes in the first half of game as Anders took an 8-4 lead. Soon Jayaram produced excellent smashes to reduce the lead to 7-9. At the mid-game interval the Denmark player just made use of height and took 11-8 lead. After the interval, it was a neck to neck battle. Jayaram had the fighting spirit to come back into the match. At one point the match was equal at 17-17. Jayaram took the first set 21-18.
In the second game, both players took alternate points to equal the score at 3-3. Jayaram used all his experience by taking a 7-4 lead. The Danish player reduced the gap to 9-10. At the mid-game interval, Jayaram takes an 11-10 lead. After the interval, the Anders played excellent badminton and not allowed Jayaram to play attacking badminton. Anders won the second set 21-13 to force the match into a decider.
In the final game, Jayaram began well but Anders played good badminton to catch up with the Indian. Jayaram raced to a 10-5 lead. At the mid-game interval, Jayaram led 11-6. After the interval, Jayaram continued to dominate and won the third set 21-13.
Jayaram will face against the winner of Emil Host and Wang Tzu Wei.