Sindhu, Srikanth enter Rd 2

Jakarta, July 17

Top Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth made impressive starts in the Indonesia Open here today. Rejuvenated after a month-long break, Sindhu and Srikanth prevailed over Japanese shuttlers Aya Ohori and Kenta Nishimoto in women’s and men’s singles, respectively.

Fifth seed Sindhu, who is looking for her first title of the season, beat Ohori 11-21 21-15 21-15. Eighth seed Srikanth beat Nishimoto 21-14 21-13 in 38 minutes.

HS Prannoy and B Sai Praneeth bowed out. Praneeth lost 15-21 21-13 10-21 to Hong Kong’s Wong Wing Ki Vincent. Prannoy couldn’t get past China’s second seed Shi Yuqi, losing 21-19 18-21 20-22 in 71 minutes.

The mixed doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa crashed out after losing 13-21 11-21 to Indonesia’s Winny Oktavina Kandow and Tontowi Ahmad. — PTI

‘If I always travel, we won't get another Sindhu’

New Delhi: India's top shuttlers have missed his court-side presence this year but national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand says he can't really help cutting down on travelling as that would come in the way of finding the next crop of world-beaters. Gopichand hasn't been travelling with the likes of PV Sindhu on the international circuit this year and he doesn't intend to change that until next year. “If I was just travelling, what happens to the next batch, we would never have a Sindhu come out then. So we need more coaches, I can't do it alone. I need more help," Gopichand said. “Everybody needs personal attention and more court time from me which is not always possible. I keep getting 'you were not there, if you were there I would have won'," he said. PTI

Dey, Das enter last-16

Vladivostok (Russia): Five Indian shuttlers, including top seed Subhankar Dey and Rituparna Das advanced to the pre-quarterfinals in the singles competitions at the Russian Open here today. PTI