PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy stormed into the semi-finals of the Swiss Open badminton tournament with straight-game victories in the women’s and men’s singles events, respectively, here on Friday.

While double Olympics medallist Sindhu, seeded second in the tournament, made short work of fifth seed Michelle Li of Canada 21-10, 21-19 in 36 minutes, Prannoy beat compatriot and former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Parupalli Kashyap 21-16, 21-16 in a quarter final match that lasted 43 minutes.

Former world champion Sindhu will meet unseeded Supanida Katethong of Thailand in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Prannoy faces the winner of the quarter final match between Sameer Verma and third seed Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia, in the semi-finals.

Saina Nehwal, however, exited after losing her singles second round match to lower-ranked Kisona Selvaduray of Malaysia.

The 23rd-ranked Indian could not maintain the consistency she showed in the first game to lose 21-17, 13-21, 13-21 against her 64th-ranked opponent on Thursday night.

Earlier on Thursday, World Championships silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth staved off a spirited challenge from France’s Christo Popov to progress to the men’s singles quarter finals.

World No. 12 Srikanth, who had missed the India leg of the BWF tour in January after testing positive for Covid-19, eked out a fighting 13-21, 25-23, 21-11 win over Popov, ranked 60th.

Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Parupalli Kashyap too entered the quarter finals after top seed and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen gave a walkover.