Australian Open :P V Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, K Srikanth, B Sai Praneeth enter QFs

22 June, Sydney

In Australian Open Super Series Badminton tournament, P V Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth and B Sai Praneeth entered the quarterfinals in Sydney on Thursday.

In the women’s singles event, fifth seed and Rio Olympic Silver Medalist Sindhu outclassed China’s Chen Xiaoxin 21-13, 21-18 to seal a quarters berth. In another women’s singles match, ace shuttler Saina Nehwal defeated Sonia Cheah of Malaysia 21-15, 20-22, 21-14 to reach the quarter-final.

In the men’s singles second round, Kidambi Srikanth and B Sai Praneeth carved out thrilling victories to set up an all-Indian quarterfinal clash at the tournament. Srikanth, who had edged out Son Wan Ho in the semifinals of Indonesia Open last week, once again had an upper hand against the World No. 1 Korean, beating him 15-21, 21-13 ,21-13. In another match, Sai Praneeth beat China’s Huang Yuxiang 21-15, 18-21, 21-13.

However in the women’s doubles event, the Indian pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy was ousted by Japanese pair of Tanaka and Yonemoto in a hard-fought 21-18, 18-21, 13-21 match. In Men’s doubles, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also bowed out after losing to Chinese Taipei’s Chen Hung Ling and Wang Chi-Lin Chinese Taipei 16-21 18-21.