Saina Enters Quarter Final of Malaysia Open Super Series Badminton

02 April, Kuala Lumpur

Saina Nehwal, who is now officially crowned the world no. One in the BWF rankings, has reached the quarterfinals of the Malaysia Open Super Series Premier Badminton tournament.

In Kuala Lumpur Thursday , Saina defeated Chinese qualifier Xue Yao.

In straight games 21-13, 21-9 in a lop-sided 30-minute contest. She has now set up a clash with another Chinese shuttler, Sun Yu, ranked 15th in the world.

In Men’s singles, however, it was curtains for Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap and Indonesian Masters winner H S Prannoy.

Kashyap suffered a 10-21 6-21 defeat to world no. 1 Chen Long of China. Prannoy went down to two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan of China 15-21 14-21 in another men’s singles match that lasted 52 minutes.

In Women’s Doubles, Commonwealth Games silver medallist Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa, also suffered a loss in the second round. The duo went 23-21 8-21 17-21 to sixth seeded Indonesian pair of Nitya Krishinda Maheswari and Greysia Poliiin.