Kashyap bows out in qualifiers

KUALA LUMPUR: With the Premier Badminton League coming to an end on Sunday, Indian shuttlers, including P Kashyap and B Sai Praneeth, decided to take part in the Malaysia Masters, which is one of the seven BWF World Tour Super 500 event. However, it was a dismal start to the international calendar for most Indians as they failed to cross the opening hurdle. In the men’s singles qualifier, Kashyap suffered a 14-21 17-21 loss to Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen, while Subhankar Dey lost 21-11 11-21 9-21 to Denmark’s Kim Bruun.

In women’s doubles qualifiers, Aparna Balan and Sruthi KP lost to Singapore pair of Ong Ren-ne and Wong Jia Ying Crystal 12-21 21-18 15-21, while Sanyogita Ghorpade and Prajakta Sawant suffered a 20-22 18-21 defeat to Malaysian pair of Chiew Sien Lim and Zhen Yap.

Praneeth will face Kantaphon Wangcharoen on Wednesday, while women’s doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy will take on German combo of Johanna Goliszewski and Kaepplein Lara.

KUBICA FOR WILLIAMS

LONDON: Poland’s former Grand Prix winner Robert Kubica will be the reserve driver for Williams. Russian Sergey Sirotkin was earlier announced as a race driver for the former champions, partnering Canadian Lance Stroll.

POOJA STEALS SHOW

NEW DELHI: Latvia’s Anastasija Grigorjeva and India’s Pooja Dhanda powered Punjab Royals to a scintillating 4-3 victory over Haryana Hammers in the Pro Wrestling League. Pooja beat World and Olympic champion Helen Maroulis of USA 7-6. Pooja took a 2-0 lead in the opening period. In the next round Pooja led 7-0. The two-time World Champion fought back but could manage 6 points. Needing a point to close the tie, World championship bronze medallist Grigorjeva delivered, scoring a comfortable 6-0 victory over Sarita in the 62-kg to hand Punjab victory.