The Netherlands are on a roll and it looks like their representatives in badminton are really going in for the medals. The European country is being quite successful in the badminton Olympics. Just a day after Selena Piek/ Cheryl Seinen secured their spot in quarterfinals, Mark Caljouw has followed the steps of his fellow Dutch players to make it to Round of 16.

- I think we're on fire this tournament. We've had good preparation with the whole team and I like to see the team do well, Caljouw said.

Not even India’s only hope in the men’s singles category could stop Caljouw from coming up on top in Group D. It was a triumph in straight sets for the Dutch player, who had also defeated Israel’s Misha Zilberman although in a lengthier battle that stretched to three games.

Sai Praneeth B. had lost to Zilberman 17-21 15-21. The 2019 BWF World Championships medallist and 13th seed now needed to secure a win against Caljouw but the 26-year-old singles player, currently ranking 29 in the world, would not be an easy challenge to overcome on his way out of the group stage.

The first game saw the Dutch player moving with fierce determination and giving Sai Praneeth B. little chance to counterattack. Something switched in the second game, as the Indian player secured the first five points of the match on a row. 

- It's nice to play when you have to win instead of winning one game and only focusing on that. When we saw the results of the first game, we kept going with our own plan and not thinking too much about anything, and I think that's good, Caljouw explained.

The scare did not make Caljouw shy away as he made a comeback, catching him 8-8 to then win the second game and the match.

- This is amazing. This feels wonderful. I was still in the end quite nervous and a bit shaky, but when I was winning that last match point, that felt great.

The Dutch player is the first European to secure a win today and this has guaranteed him a spot in the Round of 16.