Seoul: PV Sindhu and Sameer Verma advanced to the quarterfinals with straight-game wins in their respective women’s and men’s singles matches in the $6,00,000 Korea Super Series badminton tournament here Thursday.
However, it was curtains for Parupalli Kashyap and B Sai Praneeth – both of whom lost their second round men’s singles matches.
Sindhu saw off Thailand’s Nitchaon Jindapol 22-20, 21-17 to set up a clash with Japan’s Minatsu Mitani. Hong Kong Super Series finalist and Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold tournament winner Sameer defeated Hong Kong’s Wong Wing Ki Vincent 21-19, 21-13 in 41 minutes. He will however, need to raise his game by a few notches when he faces local hot favourite Son Wan Ho.
The Korean top seed Son Wan Ho, had to dig deep to end Kashyap’s run. He battled for 76 minutes against the Indian before winning 21-16, 17-21, 21-16 to reach the last eight stage. Praneeth also fought hard before going down 13-21, 24-26 to seventh seeded Tzu Wei Wang of Chinese Taipei in a contest that lasted 40 minutes.
In men’s doubles, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty showcased rising Indian prowess in men’s doubles by beating the seventh-seeded Chinese Taipei combo of Lee Jhe-Huei and Lee Yang 23-21, 16-21, 21-8 in a 51-minute second round encounter.
Earlier, World No. 4 Sindhu had come into the match with a 1-1 record against Jindapol, who had beaten the Indian at Syed Modi International last year.
Sindhu had to battle hard in the opening game with World No. 16 Jindapol managing to grab a 9-7 and 13-10 lead but the Indian broke off at 14-16 with six straight points. The Thai shuttler drew parity before Sindhu closed the issue.
The second game was also a close contest with both the shuttlers locked in a duel till 8-8. Sindhu moved ahead and grabbed a 12-9 lead and even though Jindapol managed to claw back at 15-15, Sindhu ensured that she had the last laugh.
Meanwhile, Rankireddy and Shetty were sharp from the outset in their doubles encounter, matching the hard-hitting Chinese Taipei opponents in the quick-fire exchanges and keeping their composure at the end of a tense first game.
Although their opponents fought their way back in by taking the second game, the Indians had plenty in reserve in the decider, in which they shot off to a 10-2 lead and never let go.
Results (singles only)
PV Sindhu bt Nitchaon Jindapol 22-20, 21-17
Sameer Verma bt Wong Wing Ki Vincent 21-19, 21-13
Parupalli Kashyap lost to Son Wan Ho 21-16, 17-21, 21-16
B Sai Praneeth lost to Tzu Wei Wang 13-21, 24-26
Press Trust of India
