India’s Parupalli Kashyap upset third-seeded Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand 21-9, 21-19 to move into the quarterfinals of the Denmark Open Super Series badminton tournament.
Unseeded Kashyap, who has been in an outstanding form this season took just 31 minutes to overpower the World No.10.
Kashyap is down 28 rungs from his famed rival in the world rankings but proved to be the better one on Thursday. The Hyderabadi made a strong start, opening up a 6-1 lead in the first game, and consolidated it by dictating the flow of the game in long rallies.
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Kashyap raced ahead 7-2 in the second game, before Ponsana made a comeback and took the lead at 10-9. The two fought fiercely from there on, but Kashyap broke free from 13-all, taking four points in a row. Kashyap displayed his soft touch at the net and made the Thai player struggle for every point before the Indian went on to close the match.
Kashyap will next face world No.26 Pengyu Du, the only Chinese in the draw, for a place in the semifinal.