PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen registered contrasting wins to advance to the women’s and men’s singles semi-finals, respectively, at the Yonex-Sunrise India Open badminton here on Friday.
Top seed Sindhu, a former world champion and two-time Olympic medallist, got the better of compatriot Ashmita Chaliha 21-7, 21-18 in 36 minutes, while Sen fought hard for a 14-21, 21-9, 21-14 victory over HS Prannoy in another all-Indian quarter final.
Sindhu set up a semi-final clash with Thailand’s sixth seed Supanida Katethong, who entered the semi-finals after her quarter-final opponent, third seed Yeo Jia Min of Singapore, pulled out of the tournament due to “high fever”.
Aakarshi Kashyap will face second seeded Thai Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the other women’s semi-final. She notched up a 21-12, 21-15 win over compatriot Malvika Bansod. Busanan trumped US’ Lauren Lam 21-12, 21-8 in another last-eight clash.
Against Sindhu, Chaliha took time to get into the groove and put up a good fight in the second game but couldn’t stop her from walking away with the match.
The men’s doubles pair of Ishaan Bhatnagar and Sai Pratheek K cut a sorry figure against Malaysian third seeds Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi, losing 7-21, 7-21.
Indian mixed doubles pairs of Venkat Gaurav Prasad and Juhi Dewangan and Nithin HV and Ashwini Bhat K lost their respective matches.
