Saina, Srikanth progress in Malaysia

Newly-crowned India Open champions, Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth continued their rampaging international run, notching up contrasting victories to enter the second round of the $500,000 Malaysia Open Super Series Premier, here on Wednesday. Set to be crowned the world no. 1 on Thursday, Saina hardly broke a sweat as she dumped Maria Febe Kusumastuti of Indonesia 21-13, 21-16 in women’s singles after World No. 4 Srikanth edged out England’s Rajiv Ouseph 10-21, 21-15, 22-24 in men’s singles. The Olympic bronze-medallist, Saina will next take on a Chinese qualifier Yao Xue even as Srikanth set up a clash with World No.16 Tian Houwei of China.

Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap and H S Prannoy also advanced to the second round of singles. World No.13 Kashyap got the better of South Korean lee Dong Keun 21-15, 11-21, 21-14 in an hour and 11 minutes contest, while Prannoy defeated Ireland’s Scott Evans 22-20, 21-18 in 40 minutes. Prannoy will take on two-time Olympic gold medallist and five-time World champion lin Dan. Women’s doubles combo of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa prevailed over Devi Tika Permatasari and Keshya Nurvita Hanadia 21-14, 18-21, 21-16. However, Indian men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy went down 11-21, 17-21.