Australian Open: Verma’s ‘In-Game Strategising’ Packs Off Loh
Sameer Verma’s characteristic defiance was duly rewarded in Sydney on Thursday – the Indian is in an HSBC BWF World Tour quarterfinal again after the 2022 Swiss Open.
· PREM KUMAR
Verma’s progress at SATHIO GROUP Australian Open 2024 came at the expense of eighth seed Loh Kean Yew, who continued his recent habit of early exits (no further than Round of 16) at five of six tournaments since winning the Spain Masters in March.
Loh had looked good for the win but Verma just wasn’t prepared to leave without a fight. And fight he did, clawing back from 11-5 down at the third game interval by going on a seven-point run to arrest the initiative. It disturbed Loh’s composure – the Singaporean again let his lead slip at 18-16. Verma kept his to see the job through 21-14 14-21 21-19.
“My aim was to play to my fullest ability, bring everything out,” he said after the 62-minute tussle. “I was able to strategise between rallies and execute my style, which is retrieve, then go for attack.