Kidambi Srikanth stuns Viktor Axelsen to enter semis of Denmark Open badminton

Kidambi Srikanth defeated the reigning world champion Viktor Axelsen 14-21, 22-20, 21-7 to enter the semi-finals of Denmark Open badminton.

Kidambi Srikanth stunned reigning world champion Viktor Axelsen to reach the semi-finals of Denmark Open badminton, while Saina Nehwal and H.S. Prannoy lost in the quarter-finals on Friday.

Kidambi Srikanth stunned local hero and current World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen 14-21, 22-20, 21-7 to enter the semi-finals of Denmark Open badminton.(Twitter)

Men’s singles eighth seed Srikanth eliminated Rio Olympic bronze medallist and second seed Axelsen with a 14-21, 22-20, 21-7 in 56 minutes.

The 24-year-old from Guntur was the lone bright spot for India on the day as London Olympics bronze medallist Saina and Prannoy exited the tournament.

Japanese fourth seed Akane Yamaguchi took only 29 minutes to dismantle Saina, who lost 10-21, 13-21. It was quite an underwhelming show from Saina as she failed to compete against the Japanese.

Yamaguchi will meet rising Chinese star Chen Yufei, while the other women’s singles semi-final will be fought between world No.1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei and former world champion Ratchanok Intanon of Indonesia.

Prannoy fell against South Korean top seed Son Wan Ho, who won 13-21, 18-21in 44 minutes.

Son will face South Korean Lee Hyun II in a last four battle. Srikanth will meet Vincent Ki Wing Wong in semis.