New Delhi: India's Parupalli Kashyap on Wednesday produced one of his finest performances as he stunned world number seven Chinese Zhengming Wang in a thrilling three-game victory in the USD 250,000 India Super Series badminton tournament here on Wednesday.
Kashyap, who played with a strapping on his shoulder after suffering a partial dislocation in German Open, prevailed over Wang 21-12 17-21 21-12 in a men's singles match which lasted an hour at Siri Fort Sports Complex.
Malaysia Grand Prix Gold finalist, Sourabh Varma too reached the second round after beating Russia's Vladimir Ivanov 21-16 17-21 21-14. Another Indian, R M V Gurusaidutt also made his way to the next round with a 17-21 21-16 21-17 win over Chinese Taipei's Tien Chen Chou in another men's singles match.
In women's singles, Sayali Gokhale and Trupti Murgunde reached the second round after contrasting wins.
However, it was curtains for other Indians including top ranked K Srikanth, H S Prannoy, B Sai Praneeth, Anand Pawar, Shreyansh Jaiswal and two-time national champion Anup Sridhar in men's singles.
In women's singles, it was end of road for Saili Rane, Tanvi Lad, Shruti Mundada and PC Thulasi.
Kashyap had lost twice to Wang in China and Hong Kong in 2012 and 2013, and the happiness to finally tame the Chinese reflected on his face.
"Just so happy to be able to beat him. I lost to him twice before and he is a kind of player who reads me well. He anticipates my strokes. Today I was anticipating his stokes better," Kashyap said after the match.
"The good thing is that today my level never dropped. I lost the second game but I did not lose my confidence. He is not among the fittest of Chinese players but he is good with his strokes and movements on court," said Kashyap.
"He has often caught me at the net in the last meetings.
I thought his speed dropped a bit in the third game. I wanted to maintain my game and I also got some good points on the net."
The world number 24 Indian had reached the semifinals of the Swiss Open and said the confidence had helped him today.
"I think the confidence that I got after reaching Swiss Open quarters was the key. I just wanted some good wins under my belt after the shoulder injury. The shoulder did not bother today," he said.
Thailand Grand Prix Gold winner, K Srikanth suffered a 18-21 18-21 loss to Takuma Ueda of Japan, Praneeth lost to seventh seed Chinese Pengyu DU 21-16 10-21 19-21, Pawar's gallant fight ended with a 10-21 21-19 6-21 loss to fourth seed Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark.
While 2013 All England champion and second seed Chen Long of China ended Prannoy's journey with a 21-15 21-9 win, Shreyansh Jaiswal lost to Brice Leverdez of France 15-21 24-22 13-21 in another match.
In women's singles, Sayali beat Tanvi 21-17 21-10, while Trupti battled past Mudra Dhainje 24-22 12-21 21-18.
But Shruti could not get across China's Xin Liu 12-21 8-21, Thulasi fought hard before losing 18-21 21-17 18-21 to Shizuka Uchida of Japan, Saili could not get across Japan's Minatsu Mitani and lost 16-21 8-21 in another women's singles match.
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