Praneeth, Ashwini-Sikki advance at Malaysia Masters

Sibu (Malaysia), Jan 17: India’s B. Sai Praneeth and the women’s doubles pair of Ashwini Ponppa and N. Sikki Reddy progressed to the pre-quarterfils of the $120,000 Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold badminton tourment here on Wednesday.

Praneeth got past Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen 21-13, 21-13 in 44 minutes in the first round.

Ashwini-Sikki took only 25 minutes to ease past Germany’s Johan Goliszewski and Lara Kaepplein 21-15, 21-12.

In the men’s singles category, Danish reignging world champion Viktor Axelsen became the sole survivor among the top players as Chi’s Lin Dan, Chen Long, South Korea’s Son Wan-ho and Malaysian veteran Lee Chong Wei were elimited in the first round, reports Xinhua news agency.

Lin Dan lost 16-21, 21-18 and 17-21 to Ihsan Maula Mustofa of Indonesia while Lee Chong Wei ended a 78-minute struggle losing to Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto 21-19, 18-21, 19-21.

Rio Olympic champion Chen Long admitted that his 17-21, 15-21 loss to Anthony Sinisuka Ginting was due to the effect of an early foul, but vowed to come back in a better shape in the Malaysia Open in June. (IANS)