India's star shuttler Parupalli Kashyap and teen sensation PV Sindhu stormed into the final of the men's and women's singles respectively in the $120,000 Syed Modi Indian Grand Prix Gold tournament in Lucknow on Saturday.
Kashyap, the 2012 Olympic quarter-finalists, survived a scare from the unheralded Indonesian Tommy Sugiarto before scoring a 21-18, 23-21 win at the BBD UP Academy.
Earlier, Sindhu, the women's world No. 23 and second seed in the tournament was hardly tested in her 21-12, 21-14 win over Thailand's Sapsiree Taerattanachai.
In the men's semifinal, Kashyap dominated almost the entire length of the match, then lost focus in the closing session but made a timely comeback in the finish.
"I'm happy to be in the final. I wasn't pushing myself today because of my back problem.," said an elated Kashyap.
He will take on the 14th seed Thai, Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk, who beat Indonesia's Alamsyah Yunus 21-14 21-17 in the other semifinal.
Meanwhile, Sindhu had yet another smooth outing in the tournament, outclassing her Thai opponent and third seed in the women's singles semifinal.
Sindhu looked pleased with her performance and said, "It's amazing to be in the finals. Last time I lost to the same girl because I wasn't well. Now, I'm all set for the final."
In the summit clash, Sindhu will meet Indonesia's Lindaweni Fanetri, who beat Japan's Nozomi Okuhara 22-20, 21-16.
In the mixed doubles competition, Nipitphon Puangpuapech and Savitree Amitrapai of Thailand beat Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Yu Yan Vanessa Neo of Singapore 21-18, 21-18 to enter the final while the Indonesian duo of Fran Kuriawan and Shendy Puspa Irawati beat Ji Wook Kang and Seung Chan Shin of Korea 21-14, 21-17.
In the men's doubles, the Korean pair of Sung Hyun Ko and Yong Dae Lee beat Gideon Markus Fernaldi and Agripinna Prima Rahmanto Putra of Indonesia 21-10, 21-8 while Korea's Ji Wook Kang and Sang Joon Lee thrashed Indonesia's Yonathan Suryatama Dasuki and Hendra Aprida Gunawan 21-12, 21-12.
In the women's doubles, Indonesian pair of Komala Dewi and Jenna Gozali beat Shinta Mulia Sari and Lei Yao 18-21, 21-10, 21-10 while Thailand's Savitree Amitrapai and Sapsiree Taerattanachi edged past the Korean pair of So Hee Lee and Seung Chan Shin 12-21, 21-18, 21-19.
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