India's Srikanth dumps world champ and world No 1 Axelsen in Denmark Open
Odense - the venue for the Danisa Denmark Open - continued to rumble with more shocks as India's K. Srikanth dumped hometown hero and favourite, reigning world champion Viktor Axelsen out of the superseries event as Asian continued to dominate the men's singles.
The world No 1 was the hot favourite to win the Danish Open title in his hometown but world Srikanth, the world No 8 and winner of the back-to-back BCA Indonesia Open and Australia Open, had other plans, snatching a come-from-behind 14-21, 22-20, 21-7 - completely dominating the rubber in a 55-minute encounter.
Srikanth, will now face Hong Kong China's Vincent Wing Ki who waylaid sixth seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei 22-20, 24-22 in 52 minutes.
The other semi-final will be an all-Korean affair with top seed Son Wan-ho taking on Lee Hyun Il after defeating England's Rajiv Ouseph 24-22, 21-6 and India's H.S. Prannoy 21-13, 21-18 respectively.
In the women's singles top seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei was taken the distance by Kim Hyo-min, playing in the main draw after she was promoted from the qualifying rounds, before prevailing 20-22, 21-16, 21-9.
Tzu Ying will meet former world No 1 Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand for a place in the final. Ratchanok dumped third seed Sung Ji-hyun of Korea 21-13, 21-18 in a 43-minute match.
Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, the fourth seed, ended Saina Nehwal's run in Odense with a 21-10, 21-13 win over the Indian who had knocked out Olympic champion Carolina Marin in the first round.
Yamaguchi will meet China's Chen Yufei, winner of the world junior title last year. Chen Yufei outplayed Japan's Sayaka Sato 21-6, 21-14.
Meanwhile, Malaysia's mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie gave their game a shot in the arm by reaching the semi-finals. Making their debut in the Denmark Open, the Malaysians stopped the home pair of Niclas Nohr-Sara Thygesen with a straight games 23-21, 21-12 win in a 41-minute encounter.
Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, who stunned sixth seeds Wang Yilyu-Huang Dongping of China 21-14, 16-21, 21-18 in the second round, however, face a daunting task for a place in the final.
They face top seeds Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen of China in the last four but with the confidence sky high after their brilliant run in Odense it is not impossible for the Malaysians to take their game to greater heights . The Chinese favourites defeated South Korea's Seo Seung-jae-Kim Ha-na 21-12, 21-15 in 29 minutes.
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS (SELECTED)
MEN'S SINGLES
Lee Hyun Il (KOR) beat Rajiv Ouseph (ENG) 21-13, 21-18
K. Srikanth (IND) beat Viktor Axelsen (DEN) 14-21, 22-20, 21-7
Son Wan-ho (KOR) beat H.S. Prannoy (IND) 21-13, 21-18
Vincent Wong Wing Ki (HKG) beat Chou Tien Chen (TPE) 22-20, 24-22
WOMEN'S SINGLES
Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) beat Saina Nehwal (IND) 21-10, 21-13
Chen Yufei (CHN) beat Sayaka Sato (JPN) 21-6, 21-14
Tai Tzu Ying (TPE) beat Kim Hyo-min (KOR) 20-22, 21-16, 21-9
Ratchanok Intanon (THA) beat Sung Ji-hyun (KOR) 21-13, 21-18
MIXED DOUBLES
Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie (MAS) beat Niclas Nohr-Sara Thygesen (DEN) 23-21, 21-12
Zheng Siwei-Chen Qingchen (CHN) beat Seo Seng-jae-Kim Ha-na (KOR) 21-12, 21-15
Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir (INA) beat Zhang Nan-Li Yinhui (CHN) 21-10, 21-16
Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet (HKG) beat Ronan Labar-Audrey Fontaine (FRA) 15-21, 21-13, 21-11
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