Sai, Srikanth advance; Kashyap exits

Jakarta, August 12: India’s shuttle queen Sai Nehwal emphatically progressed while third seeded men’s star Kidambi Srikanth also showed his credentials by winning but 10th seeded Parupalli Kashyap was knocked out of the World Championships here on Wednesday.

Sai showed her imperious form to demolish her inferior opponent Chinese Taipei’s Cheung Ngan Yi 21-13, 21-9 in the second round match at the 9000-seater Istora Seyan.

The World No.2 only needed 33 minutes to complete the formalities, collecting 42 of the 64 total points played in a completely one-sided affair.

Sai will next entertain the challenge of 14th seed Japanese Sayaka Takahashi, who defeated Switzerland’s Sabri Jaquet 21-11, 21-17.

Earlier in the day, Srikanth breezed past Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Jen Hao 21-14, 21-15, in the second round match, taking just 36 minutes to complete the demolition.

Srikanth was domint throughout and completed the cruising win, collecting 42 of the 71 points played in the match.

Kashyap was knocked out of the tourment after losing 21-17, 13-21, 18-21 to Nguyen Tien Minh of Hong Kong in the second round in a match that stretched for an hour and five minutes.

However, India’s women’s doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponpa won, to keep the India flag flying high.

They won their second round contest 21-10, 21-18 against Chinese Taipei’s duo of Hsieh Pei Chen and Wu Ti Jung.

The doubles specialists domited the match from the very beginning and wrapped up the match in just 24 minutes, winning 42 of the 70 total points played.

They will next play the Japanese pair of Reika Kakiiwa and Miyuki Maeda in the next round.

The other Indian doubles pair of Pradnya Gadre and Sikki N. Reddy failed to emulate their senior teammates and went down fighting 17-21, 19-21 against Japan’s Shizuka Matsuo and Mami ito.

While Kashyap’s loss was definitely a blow to the 18-member strong Indian contingent, the country’s other singles player H.S. Prannoy kept his chances alive by winning his second round contest on Wednesday.

Eleventh-seed Prannoy took only 39 minutes to beat Ugandan player Edwin Ekiring 21-14 21-19 to sail into the third round. He won 42 of the 75 total points played in the game.

In the men’s doubles section, India’s Akshay Dewalkar and Praav Jerry Chopra went down 16-21, 12-21 against Danish duo of Mads Conrad-Petersen and Pieler Kolding. (IANS)

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