Tokyo Olympics: B Sai Praneeth knocked out after being defeated by Mark Calijouw

B Sai Praneeth crashed out of Tokyo 2020 after being defeated by Mark Caljouw in a men's singles Group D match.

B Sai Praneeth failed to make his presence felt, when it mattered the most. (Image Credit: Twitter)
By Arnab Mukherji | Jul 28, 2021 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Indian badminton star B Sai Praneeth has been knocked out of the Men’s Singles event of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Sai Praneeth was defeated by Mark Caljouw of the Netherlands in a Group D match, by a 14-21, 14-21 scoreline. The 28-year-old was already out of contention for a spot in the pre-quarterfinals, after losing his opening group match in straight games to lower-ranked Misha Zilberman of Israel.

The Indian was making his debut in the Olympics but was certainly expected to deliver a win against his 47th-ranked opponent. However, Sai Praneeth suffered a defeat by a 17-21, 15-21 margin, sending a massive shock to fans back home. The shuttler’s early exit is certainly an area of concern, considering the fantastic performances delivered by Parupalli Kashyap and Kidambi Srikanth in the 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio Olympics respectively. Kashyap and Srikanth managed to reach the quarter-finals of the editions, winning hearts with their fantastic performances.

Kidambi Srikanth’s spirited display in Rio

Srikanth was competing solely in the Men’s singles event, resulting in a lot of pressure on the player. A single defeat would have spelt the end of the tournament, rather than enjoying a second opportunity to make amends.

The 28-year-old was among the 13 players seeded into different groups. Kidambi who was slotted into Group H, found himself competing against Swedish Henri Hurskainen and Mexico’s Lino Munoz. Both the opponents were well capable of making their presence felt on the day, which coupled with the nervousness of a maiden appearance in the Olympics, could have been a recipe for disaster.

However, Srikanth did not look nervous at any stage, pulling off comfortable wins against the duo. The opener against Munoz saw him record a 21-11, 21-17 triumph. This was followed by a 21-6, 21-18 win against his Swedish opponent.

An unbeaten run in the group stage saw him qualify for the knockouts. The stakes were going to be higher from this stage onwards, with a single defeat capable of spelling the end of the campaign. Srikanth’s first opponent in the Round of 16 stage was Danish star Jan Ostergaard Jorgensen.

Srikanth displays nerves of steel

Jorgensen had become the first European male singles player to win the Indonesia Open in 2014, before reaching the final of the All England Super Series in 2015. Taking on an experienced and prolific campaigner like him would certainly have been a stern challenge. However, Srikanth remained cool and kept his nerves intact, pulling off a tense 19-21, 19-21 triumph. This win was a statement of intent from the Indian who showcased his potential and capabilities to the world.

While his physical strength was certainly visible from the powerful shots and thunderous counters, the mental side of things was further gloriously visible. Srikanth did not appear tensed even when on the backfoot, maintaining a positive surge for supremacy. The shuttler further managed to hold his own to a reasonable extent against veteran Chinese Lin Dan, indicating his prowess.