Sindhu, Srikanth start off in style

Basel, March 3: Top Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth staved off a spirited challenge from compatriot Sameer Verma to make a winning start to his campaign at the Swiss Open Super 300 tournament here on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, world champion Sindhu beat Yigit Neslihan of Turkey 21-16, 21-19 in her first round match that lasted just 42 minutes.

The fourth seeded Kidambi, who had claimed the title in 2015, took little over an hour to see off 2018 winner Sameer 18-21, 21-18, 21-11 in a hard-fought men’s singles opening round match.

He will be up against France’s Thomas Rouxel in the Round of 16. Rouxel beat Canada’s Xiaodong Sheng 21-18, 21-14 in another first round match while the second seeded Sindhu will next face Iris Wang of USA in her Round of 16 match on Thursday.

Sourabh Verma also won his first round match against Switzerland’s Christian Kirchmayr 21-19 21-18.

Sourabh will next face eight seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the Round of 16.

PRANNOY CRASHES

However, H. S. Prannoy made an early exit after losing to France’s Mark Calijouw 19-21, 21-9, 17-21 in a men’s singles first round match.

Last night, Indian mixed doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa notched up an upset 21-18, 21-10 win over the world No. 8 and second-seeded Indonesian pair of Hafiz Faizal and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja in the opening round.

The second seeded Indian pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also won their first round men’s doubles match against Christopher Grimley and Matthew Grimley of Scotland 21-18 19-21 21-16.

Another Indian shuttler, Pranaav Jerry Chopra didn’t have a good outing as he along with his mixed doubles partner N. Sikki Reddy lost 18-21 15-21 to the third-seeded English pair of Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith in 39 minutes. —