Changzhou (China): Reigning World Champion and title favourite PV Sindhu sailed into the pre-quarterfinals with a convincing straight-game win over former Olympic gold medallist Li Xuerui at the China Open Super 1000 badminton tournament here Wednesday.
PV Sindhu beat China’s Li Xuerui 21-18 21-12 in just 34 minutes to set up a clash with Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong.
Replicating her World Championship form, the Olympic silver medallist produced another strong performance to get the better of the currently 20th-ranked Chinese, who entered the match with a 3-3 record against the PV Sindhu.
In men’s singles, B Sai Praneeth and Parupalli Kashyap also progressed to the second round after notching up contrasting opening-round wins.
Commonwealth Games bronze medallists Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy too found a place in the women’s doubles pre-quarterfinals after crossing the opening hurdle. However, Saina Nehwal made an early exit after losing to Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan in women’s singles.
Saina Nehwal lost 10-21, 17-21 at the hands of the World No.19 Ongbamrungphan in a match that lasted for 44 minutes at the Olympic Sports Center Xincheng Gymnasium here.
In men’s singles, World Championships bronze medallist Praneeth had to battle for 72 minutes to get past Thailand’s Suppanyu Avihingsanon 21-19, 21-23, 21-14, while former top 10 player Kashyap beat France’s Brice Leverdez 21-12, 21-15 in 38 minutes.
In women’s doubles, Ashwini and N Sikki Reddy too crossed the opening hurdle after their opponents Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Chi Ya and Lee Chih Chen retired mid-way in the second game after lagging 13-21, 8-11.
The men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy, however, crashed out of the competition after losing 15-21, 15-21 to Indonesian second seeds Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan.
The duo of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N Sikki Reddy lost to Germany’s Mark Lamsfuss and Isabel Herttrich 12-21, 21-23 to bow out in mixed doubles.
PTI
