Canada Open 2024: Priyanshu Rajawat stuns higher ranked Anders Antonsen to qualify for semis

Indian badminton player Priyanshu Rajawat defeated higher-ranked Anders Antonsen by 21-11, 17-21, 21-19 to qualify for the Canada Open 2024 semi-finals of the men’s singles event at the Markin-MacPhail Centre in Calgary on Saturday. 

This is the first time Priyanshu managed to beat any player ranked below 10 in the world. 

Priyanshu, 39th in the world badminton rankings got the better of World No. 4 Anders Antonsen of Denmark in a 79-minute hard-fought match.

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First game | Priyanshu won by 21-11

In the first game, Priyanshu started very well and took an early 7-4 lead. But the experienced Danish star made a strong comeback to make it 9-9. 

But, five consecutive points for Priyanshu ensured he would have the upper hand in the first game. Though Antonsen tried to make another comeback, seven successive points for the Indian helped him win the game by 21-14.

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Second Game | Strong comeback by Antonsen

As expected in the second game the World No. 4 made a solid return in the match and dominated the game from the start. Despite making it 7-7 at one stage, Priyanshu could not hold on with the speed and quality of his opponent. 

However, in a great display of grit and discipline, Priyanshu levelled the game at 17-17. But, he then lost four back-to-back points to lose the game by 17-21.

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Priyanshu sealed the match in the third game

In the third and last game, Priyanshu took an early lead of 5-1 but six straight points by Antonsen ensured a score of 7-5 for the Danish star. 

Priyanshu then won three points to make a comeback but Antonsen again equalled things up. The game went neck to neck with Priyanshu taking the game 19-19 before winning back-to-back points to seal the game and the match.

This will be his second Super 500 semi-final and he will face Alex Lanier of France in the final four. He is the only Indian left in the Canada Open 2024.