New Delhi: Title-contender Saina Nehwal suffered a stunning straight-game defeat in the second round but P Kashyap and P V Sindhu advanced to the quarterfinals of the India Open Super Series here on Thursday.
World number five Saina was not in her elements today as she suffered a 19-21 10-21 defeat to Korean Youn Joo Bae, ranked 12th in the world, in a 39-minute women’s singles match at the Siri Fort Complex here.
However, young prodigy Sindhu, ranked 27th in the world, stunned world number 11 and eighth seed Korean Ji Hyun Sung 21-17 22-20 to cruise into the quarterfinal.
In men’s singles, Kashyap kept his Olympic hopes alive by notching up a thrilling come-from-behind 15-21 21-14 22-20 win over Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana to reach the quarterfinals. The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist will have to win his quarterfinal battle against Chen Jin to qualify for the Olympics.
At the adjacent court, Jayaram played his heart out but could not avoid a 16-21 21-15 5-21 defeat to world number one Lee Chong Wei and crashed out of the tournament. Commonwealth Games gold medallist pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa, meanwhile, avenged their loss at the ABC to Indonesian pair of Vita Marissa and Nadya Melati by seeing them off 16-21 21-15 21-17 in a 50-minute women’s doubles match. Among other Indians, top Indian pair of Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas, who got a bye in the first round, also notched up a 21-18 18-21 21-19 victory over Korean pair of Ki Jung Kim and Sa Rang Kim in the men’s doubles competition. (PTI)
