ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP Sindhu sails into quarters with an easy win over Aya

In the men’s singles event Ajay Jayaram crashed out, losing to Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Jen Hao.

Sikki Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa lost their women’s doubles match to South Koreans Chae Yoo Jung and Kim So Yeong 20-22, 16-21 in 37 minutes.

Sikki had earlier lost the mixed doubles with Pranaav Jerry Chopra to the top seeded pair.

Wuhan (China), April 27: Olympic silver medallist P. V. Sindhu of India sailed into the quarterfinals of the Badminton Asia Championships with another clinical performance here on Thursday.

The Rio Games silver winner easily notched up a 2114, 21-15 win over unseeded Japanese Aya Ohori in the second round match that lasted just 40 minutes at the Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium.

However, Ajay Jayaram crashed out in the second round of men’s event, losing 19-21, 10-21 to Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Jen Hao.

World number three Sindhu began her campaign in the continental tournament by defeating Dinar Dyah Ayustine of Indonesia 21-8, 21-18 in a lop-sided first round encounter. It was a comfortable victory for the Hyderabadi badminton star as she could dominate her opponent throughout the match.

London Games bronze medallist Saina Nehwal, H.S. Prannoy and the doubles pairs exited the tournament on the opening day on Wednesday.

Seeded third, the 21-yearold Sindhu is the lone Indian in fray now, and will take on He Bingjiao of China in the quarterfinals.

In the men’s event, Jayaram, who had stunned Chinese fifth seed Tian Houwei in the first round, lost in straight games.

In the mixed doubles category, Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N. Sikki Reddy went down to top seeds Zheng Siwei and Chen Qingchen 15-21, 21-14, 16-21 in 50 minutes.

Sikki, partnering Ashwini Ponnappa, also lost in the doubles competition to South Koreans Chae Yoo Jung and Kim So Yeong 2022, 16-21 in 37 minutes.

— PTI