Sindhu, Srikanth eye Thai high
Bangkok, July 9: P.V. Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth will look to continue their impressive run in a quest for the season’s first title at the $350,000 Thailand Open badminton tournament in Bangkok from Tuesday.
Olympic silver medallist Sindhu and former world no 1 Srikanth were in rampaging form last season winning several titles but a title has eluded both so far this season despite consistent performances in major tournaments.
The duo looked in good touch at Malaysia and Indonesia — the first two events of the south-east Asia leg of the Badminton World Federation world tour. While Sindhu
reached the semi-finals and quarterfinals in the last two weeks, Srikanth’s progress was halted by Kento Momota of Japan in both tournaments, exiting in the semi-finals and first round respectively.
This week, Sindhu opens against Bulgaria’s Linda Zetchiri, while Srikanth faces a qualifier in the men’s singles.
Saina Nehwal faces Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the first round.
Coming back from an inflammation in his ankle joint, H.S. Prannoy stunned two-time Olympic gold medallist Lin Dan in the opening round but lost in the Indonesian Open quarter-finals to All England champion Shi Yuqi. Swiss Open champion Sameer Verma too will look to go deep in the draw when he opens against Thailand’s Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk.
Also returning to action after recovering from a shin stress fracture is 2014 Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap who faces China’s top seed Shi Yuqi in the opening round.
JAYARAM FINISHES RUNNER-UP IN RUSSIA In Gatchina, Russia, comeback man Ajay Jayaram finished runner-up at the White Nights International Challenge, losing to top seed Pablo Abian of Spain. The Indian lost 2111, 16-21, 17-21 to Pablo in the summit clash.