Sarawak: Top Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and Ajay Jayaram reached the pre-quarterfinals of the season-opening Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold after notching up contrasting wins in women’s and men’s singles competition respectively here Wednesday.
Top seed Saina, who is desperately looking for a title to boost her confidence, spanked Thailand’s Chasinee Korepap 21-9, 21-8 in a lop-sided contest. The 26-year-old Indian will face Indonesia’s Hanna Ramadini next.
Sixth seed Jayaram eked out a 21-10, 17-21, 21-14 win over Malaysia’s Jun Hao Leong in the opening round before mauling Indonesia’s Saputra Vicky Angga 21-9, 21-12 in the second match. The World No. 19 Indian will next meet Chinese Taipei’s Hsueh Hsuan Yi. However, qualifier Hemanth M Gowda, lost 5-21, 19-21 to Chun-Wei Chen of Chinese Taipei.
In mixed doubles, Manu Attri and Jwala Gutta defeated Indonesian combo of Lukhi Apri Nugroho and Ririn Amelia 21-19, 21-18, while the women’s doubles pair of Aparna Balan and Prajakta Sawant saw off Indonesian combo of Aghisna Fathkul Laili and Aprilsasi Putri Lejarsar Variella 21-10, 21-11.
However, B Sumeeth Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa suffered a 17-21, 17-21 loss against sixth seeds Tontowi Ahmad and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja of Indonesia.
Press Trust of India
