Indian men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy beat higher ranked Japanese pair of Onada and Sukhara in straight sets 21-17,21-17 in the semi finals of US Open Grand Prix Gold event at New York in early morning on Sunday (IST). It is a great achievement by Indian men’s doubles who have played some excellent badminton throughout the tournament.
In the first set Manu Attri and Sumeeth were aggressive taking 4-2 lead. Both Sumeeth Reddy and Manu Attri were aggressive on the net and played some excellent smashes. At one stage the Indian pair led 8-4. At the changeover Manu Attri/ Sumeeth Attri led 11-5. After the changeover the Japanese pair attacked the Indian pair more and took points in succession but the Indian pair continued to dominate. The Japanese pair made 17-19 but the Indian pair took 2 points more to take the first game 21-17.
In the second game the Japanese pair made a positive start taking a commanding 8-4 lead. At the changeover the Japanese pair led 11-6. After the changeover the Indian pair attacked the Japanese pair and did not allow them to settle. The Indian pair made a great comeback and again led 19-16 before wrapping the game 21-17 in 33 minutes.
Also in the men’s singles Sai Praneeth lost to Lei Chong Wei in straight sets 9-21,17-21. The Indian men’s pair would like to continue their form and it would be nice to see men’s pair to win the title later today. They will either met the Japanese or the Chinese pair in the final.