Sai, Sindhu, Srikanth, Prannoy, in pre-quarters

Gold Coast, April 11: India’s star singles shuttlers and the mixed doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponppa advanced to the pre-quarterfinls of the 21st Commonwealth Games here on Wednesday.

Rio Olympics silver medallist P.V. Sindhu thrashed Fiji’s Andra Whiteside 21-6, 21-3, while 2012 bronze medallist Sai Nehwal routed South African Elsie De Villiers 21-3, 21-1.

Three-time World championship medallist Sindhu will meet Wendy Chen Hsuan-yu in the next round, while Sai’s challenger will be Jessica Li of the Isle of Man.

Sindhu didn’t play any matches during India’s gold medal-winning run in the mixed team competition.

She had suffered a minor ankle injury during training back home before leaving for Australia.

Third women’s singles shuttler, Ruthvika Gadde beat Gha’s Grace Atipaka 21-15, 21-7. Ruthvika will meet Singapore’s Jia Min Yeo in the next round.

In the men’s singles Round-of-32, H.S. Prannoy beat Mauritius’ Jean Paul Christopher 21-14, 21-6, while Kidambi Srikanth beat Mauritius’ Aatish Lubah 21-13, 21-10.

On Thursday, Prannoy will battle it out with Anthony Joe, while Srikanth will face Niluka Karuratne of Sri Lanka. The mixed doubles pair of Satwik and Ashwini beat England’s Ben Lane and Jessica Pugh 21-17, 21-16. (IANS)