Korea Open: In 3 setter, Ajay Jayaram gets to 2nd semis

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On Friday, Ajay beat Japanese Sho Sasaki — ranked 26 currently — a tricky southpaw from Japan who was in the top 10 around the time of the last Olympics. Sho, a semifinalist at All England, isn’t the most consistent of shuttlers on the circuit but still as a seasoned pro can be quite a handful for Ajay, who hasn’t exactly featured in the business end of Super Series tournaments as much as he would have liked.

There’s the semis at the China Masters in 2012, but little else to follow that, though Ajay did make the finals at Russia earlier this year. In a match lasting 1 hour 6 minutes, Ajay would level out their head to head record to now read 2-2, after a dramatic second set where an inexplicable lapse in focus dragged the match into a decider.

Ajay had done well to shrug off an error-strewn 3-11 first set score and a flurry speed from Sho by slowing down the pace and clawing back to win the opener at 21-19. The Indian would sail to 6-1 in the second and then lose the plot at the net to concede the second 16-21.

In the decider however, Ajay would dig his heels in. Having beaten sixth seed Viktor Axelsen in the first round, and following it up with a good win over Wing Ki Wong in another three setter, Ajay would make it a third straight good day at the office, mixing his attack and playing a variety of strokes.

“There was a long rally around 9-10 which I dug deep and managed to win. I think that turned things around for me,” he said later. Ajay next plays Chou Tien Chen, an imminently beatable Taipese against whom the Indian’s poised at 2-2. The 25-year-old World No. 7 has won both their encounters played this year in straight sets, but Ajay will back himself to carry forward his good run this week.

“He has been playing well undoubtedly. But I’m feeling positive and looking forward to Saturday’s semifinal. I think the key would be to be patient and take chances when I get them,” he says.

Since the shoulder trouble, Ajay has watched the likes of K Srikanth and HS Prannoy supercede him in rankings, but the aggressive shuttler wants to keep faith. “I’m working more on my defence and patience in long rallies,” he stresses.

There’s been quite a controversy on the TOPS inclusions (and omissions) in the past few months, but Ajay wants to stick to his immediate goals in Seoul. “I’m not thinking about that right now. I think stringing in consistent results is my priority and my focus is on that,” he says.

What’s helped him ever since that day in Delhi when Chen Jin’s walkover sealed his Olympics fate, giving the spot to close friend P Kashyap for London, is dogged belief. “You just hang in there and keep believing in yourself,” he says.