Match: Kidambi Srikanth v Zulfadli Zulkiffli
Date: 27 January, Friday
Time: 7:50pm SGT/5:20pm IST/11:50am GMT (onwards)
Competition: Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold 2017
Venue: Uttar Pradesh Badminton Academy, Lucknow
TV Channel: There is no live TV coverage in Singapore.
Live Streaming: BWF official Youtube channel, Hotstar
Live Updates will be available on tournament's official website.
Overview
Zulfadli Zulkiffli is the lone Malaysian shuttler remaining in the Men's singles draw of the ongoing tournament after 10th seed Chong Wei Feng crashed out in the Round of 16 after losing to local shuttler Sameer Verma in straight games on Thursday.
Seventh seed Zulkiffli though edged past 13th seed Israel shuttler Misha Zilberman 21-15, 21-15 to book his place in the quarter-final. The 23-year-old battled past two unseeded shuttlers in his first two rounds and continued his good run in the pre quarter-final clash.
After a disappointing campaign at home earlier this month in Malaysia Masters, where the world number 30 was knocked out in the second round after defeat to Taiwan's Hsuan Yi over three games, Malaysia's hopes of a Men's singles title depends on their third-ranked national shuttler. However, Zulkiffli needs a mammoth effort if he has to stand a chance against defending champion Kidambi Srikanth, who outclassed his brother Zulhelmi in the second round.
India's highest-ranked Men's singles shuttler will be looking go the distance after having made a strong start to the season with three straight games win. Srikanth also was in good form clinching crucial wins in the recently concluded Premier Badminton League second season for runners-up Awadhe Warriors.
The world number 19, who missed out on the European circuit last year due to an ankle injury right after his Rio Olympic quarter-final defeat to Lin Dan, will want to start the year with a title under his belt. Srikanth, who has 2-0 head-to-head advantage over his Malaysian opponent, is looking all set to clinch a semi-final berth in Lucknow.
TV Schedule
India: Star Sports
