Swiss open: Sindhu, Srikanth enter quarterfinals

Basel, March 24

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Four Indian shuttlers, including double Olympics medallist PV Sindhu and World Championships silver winner Kidambi Srikanth, progressed to the quarterfinals of the Swiss Open badminton tournament here today.

Sindhu, a former world champion, eased into the last-8 with a 21-19 21-14 win over Neslihan Yigit of Turkey. Srikanth staved off a spirited challenge from France’s Christo Popov, ranked 60th, with a fighting 13-21 25-23 21-11 win in the Super 300 tournament.

Former top-10 player HS Prannoy also fought past Finland’s Kalle Kolionen 19-21 21-13 21-9 to find a place in the quarters as did former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Parupalli Kashyap after top seed and Olympics champion Viktor Axelsen gave a walkover.

Third seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty lost 19-21 20-22 to Indonesia’s Pramudya Kusumawardana and Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan in the men’s doubles.

In the women’s singles, Ashmita Chaliha put up a tough fight before going down 18-21 20-22 to eighth seeded Scot Kirsty Gilmour in the second round. —