then marched on to an easy win. He will next face second seed Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in the semifinals.
However, it was curtains for Verma as he failed to counter Dan’s attacking game and vast experience to lose 19-21, 9-21 in another quarterfinal duel. In the first game it was a close affair with Verma at one point of time managing a two-point lead at 13-11. However, Dan used his superior court craft and body smashes to telling effect to get back the lead at 18-17. After that there was no looking back for the Chinese legend. In the second game, he made it a one-sided affair once he established a 9-4 lead. Dan will be up against qualifier Kwang Hee Heo of Korea in the other semifinal.
The fifth-seeded Indian men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy also crashed out after losing their quarterfinal encounter 10-21, 15-21 to fourth seeds Bodin Isara and Nipitphon Phuangphuapet of Thailand.
Results (singles only)
B Sai Praneeth bt Niluka Karunaratne 21-7, 21-9
Sameer Verma lost to Lin Dan 19-21, 9-21
