Sridhar advances to semi-finals in Asian Badminton championship

Johor Bahru, Malaysia, Apr 13 (UNI) Anup Sridhar scripted a brilliant come-from-behind victory over world number 12 Shoji Sato of Japan 20-22, 21-16, 21-18 to storm into the semi-finals on men's singles competition in the Yonex-Sunrise Asian Badminton Championship here today.

World number 35 Sridhar, who reached the semi-finals of the German Open Grand Prix last month, will now play Doha Asian Games champion and world number 14 Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, who shocked top seed Malaysian Lee Chong Wei 21-17, 21-17 in another quarter-final tie, for a place in the title round.

Earlier in the day, Sridhar had beaten Hsieh Yu Hsing of Taipei 21-18, 21-17 in the pre-quarterfinals.

Sridhar remained the only Indian left in the tournament as the men's doubles duo of Akshay Dewalkar and Jishnu Sanyal lost their second round match against third seeded Hong Kong pair of Njoto Alberus Susanto and Wiratama Yohan Hadikusumo 16-21, 17-21.

UNI