Singapore open: Good old Saina Nehwal joins PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy in quarterfinals

PTI

Singapore, July 14

Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal showed signs of regaining her form with a sensational win over Chinese world No. 9 He Bingjiao at the Singapore Open Super 500 here today.

The two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist joined compatriots PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

Nehwal, who has been pegged back by a series of injuries, prevailed 21-19 11-21 21-17 over the fifth- seeded Chinese in the women’s singles to make the last-eight stage. When she takes on Japan’s Aya Ohori next, it will be her first appearance in the quarterfinals of a Super 500 event in over two years

In the last three years, her best performance had been a semifinals finish at the Orleans Master Super 100. She had also reached the quarterfinals stage at the Malaysia Masters and Spain Masters in 2020.

Two-time Olympics medallist Sindhu and an in-form Prannoy made the quarterfinals after registering fighting wins.

Third seed Sindhu staved off a spirited challenge from Vietnam’s world No. 59 Thuy Linh Nguyen, beating her 19-21 21-19 21-18 to set up a clash with China’s Han Yue. The Chinese beat Ashmita Chaliha 21-9 21-13.

World No. 19 Prannoy notched up his second win in three weeks over world No. 4 Chou Tien Chen, overcoming the third seed 14-21 22-20 21-18 in the men’s singles competition. The 29-year-old will face Japan’s Kodai Naraoka next.

The men’s doubles pairing of MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila also entered the quarters with a stunning 18-21 24-22 21-18 win over sixth-seeded Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin of Malaysia.

A day after upsetting compatriot Kidambi Srikanth, Mithun Manjunath’s bowed out with a fighting 10-21 21-18 16-21 loss to Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen.

The highlight of the day was Nehwal’s thrilling victory over Bingjiao, a two-time World Championships bronze medallist, whom the Indian had defeated in their only previous meeting back in 2019.

Nehwal’s trademark crosscourt smashes and drops were on full display as she put up a good show at the Singapore Indoor Stadium here.

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