Sindhu keeps on rolling

lucknow, January 20

Two-time Olympics medallist PV Sindhu hardly broke a sweat but HS Prannoy had to toil as the two Indian shuttlers progressed to the women’s and men’s singles quarterfinals of the Syed Modi International Super 300 tournament here today.

Top seed Sindhu took just 33 minutes to get the better of American Lauren Lam 21-16 21-13 in her second-round match, while fifth seed Prannoy staved off a stiff challenge from compatriot Priyanshu Rajawat before prevailing 21-11 16-21 21-18.

Sindhu, a former world champion, will take on sixth-seeded Thai shuttler Supanida Katethong in the last-eight in a repeat of their India Open semifinals clash.

The 26-year-old from Hyderabad will look to avenge the loss to the southpaw, who had beaten the Indian last week.

Prannoy, a former top-10 player, will face France’s Arnaud Merkle, who ended India’s Kartikey Gulshan Kumar’s campaign with a 21-8 21-12. Meanwhile, Aakarshi Kashyap and Malvika Bansod have set up an exciting quarterfinals clash against each other after notching up straight-game wins over Sai Uttejitha Rao Chukka and Prerana Neeluri respectively. —