Mumbai: Ajay Jayaram, seeded ninth, defeated Huang Yuxiang 21-15 21-18 in a 40-minute battle. It wasn’t the very first time that they were confronted. Last year at the Canada Open they played against each other, where Jayaram, defeated him.
This time again, good old days were played back. World No. 27 Indian, Ajay Jayaram, emerged as the sole survivor. After a tough battle with his counterpart from China, Huang Yuxiang , Jayaram rose as the winner and dived straight into the quarterfinals of men’s singles of the Super Series event. It was a neck-to-neck contest between Jayaram and Huang till 7-7. But then Indian shuttler soon grabbed five straight points, creating a major lead which the Chinese shuttler found hard to cover up. With this Jayaram pocketed the opening game.
It was a neck-to-neck contest between Jayaram and Huang till 7-7. But then Indian shuttler soon grabbed five straight points, creating a major lead which the Chinese shuttler found hard to cover up. With this Jayaram pocketed the opening game.
With a happy note for Indians, second game started. Jayaram’s charged energy attracted points taking scoreboard to 13-7. Although, Huang Yuxiang tried pretty dense to change the sketch of the match by bringing scores to 12-14 but Jayaram could hung on the slight edge and managed to stave off the challenge.
“I was winning comfortably. But got a bit close in the second. Quite happy with the way I played today. Was moving well and did well to mix my attack. A slightly nervous finish but delighted to pull through in the end and make it through to the quarters,” Jayaram said.
“Up against Lee Hyun Il tomorrow. A difficult opponent to play against, but I’m feeling good and looking to keep up the momentum,” he added.
Ajay Jayaram will next face China’s Huang Yuxiang.
However, another Indian , B Sai Praneeth, who too qualified for the second round of men’s singles, floundered to penetrate into quarter-finals. He went one-on-one with sixth seeded Korean Son Wan Ho and lost the match. It went for 34 minutes with set scores as 9-21 15-21.