India’s Kidambi Srikanth progressed through to the quarterfinal of the 2016 Rio Olympics after beating Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark 21-19 21-19 in the Round of 16 clash on Monday.
The opening game saw the Dane take a slight lead at the start, but Srikanth was soon in his elements, and as he did during his group matches, used his smashes to very good effect to remain in the lead for large portions. He went into the interval with an 11-9 advantage and one could sense that the Dane was under pressure.
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After the break, Srikanth continued to pile on the smash, which were landing right on the line and mixed them up very well, with a few down-the-line and others cross court. He also brought out the long, underarm shot that also landed bang on the line on most occasions and eventually clinched the game 21-19.
The Dane had to win the second game at all costs and brought out his own attacking game, but Srikanth showed magnificent defense to counter several of the opponent’s fast hits and also ensured that like in the opening game, he got his smashes right as well.
Srikanth led 8-4 in the second game ,but Jan fought back to clinch 4 straight points to level the score at 8-8. He then went in front in the following point, but the Indian didn't give in so soon and kept pegging him back, taking an 11-10 lead at the break.
After the break, the game once started to go in Jan’s favour, but things turned around for the Indian again at the 14-17 mark, where the Indian won three consecutive points to make it 17-17 before winning 4 out of the next 6 points to win the game 21-19 and with that the match as well.
He is now the second successive Indian Men’s shuttler to reach the quarterfinals after Parupalli Kashyap reached that stage in London in 2012. Srikanth will face reigning Olympic champion Lin Dan in the quarters on Wednesday.
