Sindhu, Sai Praneeth storm into World Championships semis

India's P.V. Sindhu staged a stunning come-from-behind victory over Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying in the quarterfinals, while Sai Praneeth B. recorded a superb straight-game win over Indonesia's Jonatan Christie to book semifinal berths in the BWF World Championships.

Sindhu, who won back-to-back silver medals in the last two editions of the prestigious tournament, edged past former world no. 1 and Asian Games gold medallist Tzu Ying 12-21 23-21 21-19 in a pulsating contest that lasted 71 minutes, assuring herself of a fifth medal at the Worlds.

The 24-year-old Indian, an Olympic silver medallist, will take on the winner of the match between China's Chen Yu Fei and Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt on Saturday.

Sindhu showed tremendous grit after being blown away in the opening game, edging past her fancied rival, who enjoys an upper hand (10-4) after 14 career meetings.

Sai Praneeth raised hopes of ending India's 36-year agonising wait for a men's singles medal at the BWF World Championships, with a hard-fought win.

World no. 19 Praneeth, who was awarded the Arjuna Award this year, notched up a 24-22 21-14 win over Asian Games gold medallist and world no. 4 Jonatan in the quarterfinals to assure himself of a medal at the prestigious tournament.

Badminton legend Prakash Padukone was the first Indian to win a men's singles medal—a bronze—in the 1983 World Championship.

Praneeth had won the Singapore Open in 2017 and finished runner-up in the Swiss Open early this year.