Ouseph into All-England quarter-finals

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Rajiv Ouseph came through another three-game epic to reach the quarter-finals of the All-England Open in Birmingham.

Feltham’s world number 22 had dumped out third seed Son Wan Ho in the first round on Wednesday, and made it 10 matches unbeaten this year by edging out H. S. Prannoy of India.

This time, Ouseph had to battle back from losing the opening game as Prannoy, ranked three places above the Englishman, won it 21-17.

Ouseph had the better of the early skirmishes in the next game but couldn’t shake off Prannoy, who kept the pressure on and eventually levelled at 18-18.

The west Londoner dug deep to win three of the next four points to force a decider.

Prannoy began it well, opening up a 6-2 lead, but Ouseph then reeled off nine points in a row to take control.

At 18-12, victory was in sight but Ouseph had to survive a comeback from Prannoy to close out the 17-21 21-19 21-18 victory.

He will meet Japan’s Sho Sasaki, the world number 16, in Friday’s quarter-final.

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