Press Trust of India
Basel, March 14: Kidambi Srikanth entered the final of the USD 120,000 Swiss Grand Prix Gold badminton championship after he got the better of compatriot Ajay Jayaram in an all India last four clash here Saturday.
Top seed Srikanth had to fight his way back from one game down to emerge 17-21, 21-15, 21-18 victorious over Jayaram in a thrilling 50 minute semifinal match at the St Jakobshalle stadium.
World number four Srikanth will take on the winner of the other semifinal between Xue Song and Viktor Axelsen in the summit clash, Sunday.
The opening game went neck and neck until 6-6, after which Jayaram snatched six straight points to open up a 12-6 lead and from there on Srikanth had to do the catching up, but failed in his pursuit losing the game 17-21.
However, the top seeded shuttler bounced back in a remarkable fashion by winning the second game. Even though Jayaram took an upper hand by opening a lead of 12-8, Srikanth maintained his cool and eventually clinched the game 21-15 to take the match to the
decider.
In the third game, Srikanth moved ahead quickly to grab a 12-6 lead before Jayaram gave him a scare by levelling the scores after earning six successive points. But Srikanth held on to his nerves to take a slender lead again and this time he did not let the advantage slip sealing the game 21-18.
