Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold: Sindhu, Srikanth book quarters berths

Top shuttlers P.V. Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth advanced to the quarter-finals of the $120,000 Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold with contrasting victories in the women’s and men’s singles competition in Penang, Malaysia on Thursday.

Two-time World Championship bronze medallist Sindhu edged out Japan’s Kaori Imabeppu 21-13, 13-21 21-14 in a hard-fought battle to take her overall record against the Japanese to 3-0.

The third seed will next take on Indonesia’s Lindaweni Fanetri.

Second seed Srikanth thrashed 16th seed Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand 21-17 21-10 to take a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head record. The world no. 9 from Guntur will lock horns with China’s Huang Yuxiang next.

Ajay Jayaram, seeded 10th, also progressed to the last eight round but he had to fight it out to register a 11-21 21-8 22-20 win over Malaysia’s Zulfadli Zulkiffli.

However, it was curtains for Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa as they lost their second round match 14-21, 17-21 against the Japan’s Shizuka Matsuo and Mami Naito.

Saina likely to meet Ratchanok in Thailand final World no. 2 Saina Nehwal and former world champion Intanon Ratchanok are likely to clash in the finals of the Thailand Masters as the two have been drawn in opposite halves in the $120,000 Grand Prix Gold tournament in Bangkok from February 8 to 13.