Sports
Syed Modi Masters: Saina, Sindhu, Srikanth, Kashyap in semis
Lucknow, Jan 23 (IANS) Shuttlers Saina Nehwal, P.V.
Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth and Parupalli Kashyap reached the semi-finals
of the $120,000 Syed Modi International India Masters at the Babu
Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium here Friday.
World No.3 and top seed
Saina defeated compatriot and World No.71 Arundhati Pantawane 21-18,
21-17 in 35 minutes, while World No.9 Sindhu battled past Thai Porntip
Buranaprasertsuk 8-21, 21-11, 21-14 in 49 minutes.
In the last
four contest, Olympic bronze medallist Saina will face Thai Nichaon
Jindapon, who moved past Indian P.C. Thulasi 21-16, 20-22, 21-12 in an
hour five minutes. The 24-year-old Saina leads 2-0 in career meetings
against World No.22 Jindapon.
Two-time World Championships bronze
medallist Sindhu faces a tough challenger in reigning world champion
Carolina Marin of Spain, who needed just 29 minutes to thrash Thai
Chochuwong Pornpawee 21-11, 21-13. The 19-year-old Sindhu trails 1-2 in
career meetings against the 21-year-old Spaniard.
In the men's
singles competition, World No.5 Srikanth advanced after Malaysian fifth
seed Wei Feng Chong was retired hurt as the second game ended. The
21-year-old Srikanth lost the first game 17-21 before winning the second
game 21-12.
Srikanth, who defeated five-time world champion Lin
Dan to lift the Chinese Grand Prix Gold 2014 title, will face compatriot
H.S. Prannoy, who beat countryman R.M.V. Gurusaidutt 21-18, 21-19 in 41
minutes.
Commonwealth Games 2014 champion Kashyap registered a facile 21-18, 21-9 win over Singaporean Zi Liang Derek Wong.
In
the other semi-final, World No.15 Kashyap will meet Denish second seed
Viktor Axelsen, who moved past Indian B. Sai Praneeth 15-21, 21-17,
21-16 in an hour and four minutes.