Another setback for India as shuttler Srikanth bows out of Rio Olympics

Think that the game is only of 11 points.

Sindhu’s highly inspirational 22-20 21-19 victory over the current world no 2 and silver medal victor in London four years ago has boosted the country’s sagging hopes of a medal from the Games.

Lin Dan will next face World No.1 Lee Chong Wei in the semi-final.

The top seed beat sixth seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei 21-9, 21-15.

Enduring a disastrous campaign thus far, the medal-less Indian contingent has been pinning its hopes mainly on shuttlers Sindhu and Srikanth, besides its wrestlers – including world championship bronze medal victor Narsingh, to end the drought before the disheartening development.

Earlier on Tuesday, the World No.11 Srikanth stunned World No.5 Jorgensen 21-19, 21-19 in 42 minutes at the pre-quarters stage. But the 23-year-old staged a remarkable comeback in the second game and took it to 21-11.

Its woes continued on day 11 on Wednesday when Hardeep Singh lost 1-2 in his opening encounter against Turkey’s Ildem Cenk in the Greco-Roman 98kg category before Sindhu brought cheer to the camp. In the second game, Srikanth put in a much better performance as Lin made plenty of errors at the net. He got better with every shot and was six points ahead of the champion Chinese shuttler at the interval.

However, the sheer quality of his strokes helped Lin Dan lead 19-16 but Srikanth managed to breath down his neck with another superb smash before a rushing shot got buried at the nets and gave the match point to the Chinese. The player at the other end found the net many a times, and it continued once again as Srikanth’s returns hit the net.

In the third and decider game, the Chinese dominated the proceedings for the initial minutes but then Srikanth diminished the three points to make it 6-6. Even the smashes that Srikanth could manage, like the cross-court one at 6-20, sailed wide.

Five-time world champion Dan edged World No.11 Srikanth 21-6, 11-21, 21-18 to enter the semi-finals for the third consecutive time. The Indian extended his lead to 13-10 after the break, but the Chinese shuttler was not ready to go down without a fight. Dan seemed to be struggling in the defence of cross-court smashes from Srikanth. A wayward smashes, and two mistakes near the net made it 16-14 in favour of the champion and all of a sudden the pressure was back.