Gold Coast: India’s star singles shuttlers P.V. Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth and H.S. Prannoy entered the quarter-finals, while Satwik Rankireddy, Ashwini Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy also enjoyed a successful day as they reached the last-eight stages in both the doubles categories at the 21st Commonwealth Games here on Thursday.
Rio Olympics silver medallist Sindhu whipped local girl Hsuan-Yu Wendy Chen 21-15, 21-9, while London Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal advanced after the Isle of Man’s Jessica Li retired hurt while trailing 4-21, 0-2.
World No. 3 Sindhu will on Friday take on Canadian Brittney Tam for a place in the top-four, while Saina will face Rachel Honderich of Canada.
In another women’s singles tie, Ruthvika Gadde overcame some resistance from Singapore’s Jia Min Yeo to eventually emerge victorious 21-10, 21-23, 21-10 in a 55-minute battle. She will face Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour in the next round.
In the men’s singles, top seed Srikanth thrashed Sri Lankan Niluka Karunaratne 21-10, 21-10 in just 33 minutes at the Carrara Sports Arena here, while Prannoy tamed Australian Anthony Joe 21-18, 21-11 in 35 minutes to enter the quarter-finals.
Srikanth will meet Singapore’s Ryan Ng Zin Rei in the quarter-finals, while Prannoy will look to go past Sri Lankan Dinuka Karunaratne.
In the men’s doubles, Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated Mauritius’ Aatish Lubah and Christopher Jean Paul 21-8, 21-12.
The Indian pair will meet Malaysians Chan Peng Soon and Goh Soon Huat in the next round.
In the mixed doubles, the pairs of Ashwini Ponnappa and Satwik, and Sikki and Pranaav Chopra advanced to the quarter-finals.
Ashwini and Satwik took just 25 minutes to thrash Canadian duo of Kristen Tsai and Nyl Yakura 21-10, 21-7.
In the quarter-finals, the Indian mixed doubles pair will be up against Malaysia’s Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie, who got past Ghana’s Emmanuel Donkor and Stella Amasah.
Sikki and Pranaav edged past Singaporean pair of Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Jia Ying Crystal Wong 21-19, 21-13 in 34 minutes.
Sikki and Pranaav will next take on Malaysian pair of Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying for a place in the semi-finals.
Ashwini then paired up with Sikki to defeat Singapore’s Ong Ren-NE and Jia Ying Crystal Wong 21-18, 21-13 for a place in the quarter-finals.
Ashwini-Sikki will take on Sri Lanka’s Hasini Ambalangodage and Madushika Dilrukshi Beruwelage for a place in the semi-finals.
