Sindhu, Saina enter quarters
Jakarta, Aug. 25: Top Indian shuttlers P. V. Sindhu and Saina Nehwal advanced to the women’s singles quarterfinals after beating their respective opponents in straight games here on Saturday.
Olympic and World Championship silver medallist Sindhu outwitted local player and world number 22 Gregoria Mariska Tunjung 21- 12, 21- 15 in 35 minutes after Commonwealth Games gold medallist Saina dispatched another crowdfavourite Fitriani, ranked 40th, 21- 6, 21- 14 in another second- round match.
Saina will next face either Thailand’s fourth seed Ratchanok Intanon or Korea’s Sung Ji Hyun, while Sindhu will take on the winner of the match between Sri Lanka’s Kavidi Sirimannage and Thailand’s Nitchaon Jindapol.
Commonwealth Games silver medallists duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, however, couldn’t cross the second round after their gallant fight ended with a 1721, 21- 19, 17- 21 loss against Korea’s Choi Solgyu and Min Hyuk Kang in men’s doubles.
In women’s singles prequarterfinals, Sindhu zoomed to a 8- 1 lead early on before Gregoria fought back to reduce the gap to 7- 10. The Indian then unleashed a smash leaving the Indonesia stranded to enter the interval 118.
The 19- year- old Indonesian showed glimpses of her skills when she troubled the Indian with her backhand flicks and reverse slices. However, the experienced Sindhu managed to keep her nose ahead and pocketed the opening game when her opponent hit long and at the net.
In the second game, Sindhu moved to a 6- 2 advantage, despite her opponent giving ample display of her defence as she kept returning the shuttle back from difficult positions. — PTI