Thailand Open: Sindhu, Srikanth & Sameer enter 2nd round, Saina crashes out

Bangkok: Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, Sameer Verma, men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty and the mixed doubles team of Satwik and Ashwini Ponnappa entered the second round while Saina Nehwal crashed out of the Toyota Thailand Open, here on Tuesday.

World champion PV Sindhu picked up a straight game victory over Thai opponent Busanan Ongbamrungphan to put her first-round exit at the Yonex Thailand Open behind her.

Sindhu defeated World No 12 Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-17 21-13 in the women’s singles opener. She will face either Korea’s Sung Ji Hyun or Soniia Cheah in the second round of the Thailand Open.

In men’s singles, former world no 1 Srikanth outclassed Thai player Sitthikom Thammasin 21-11 21-11 in 37 minutes.

World no 31 Sameer Verma, plucked up the win of the day, upsetting world No 10 Lee Zii Jia 18-21 27-25 21-19 in a thrilling opening match.

However, Saina Nehwal crashed out of the tournament after losing 17-21 8-21 to former world champion Ratchanok Inthanon in a lop-sided contest. Saurabh Verma, brother of Sameer, also was knocked out, as he went down 16-21 11-21 to fifth seed Anthony Ginting of Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Parupalli Kashyap retired at 0-3 against Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke. The 34-year-old had to concede his Yonex Thailand Open match last week too due to an injury.

The men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty knocked out another Indian pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy by 20-22, 26-28.

In the mixed doubles, the pair of Satwik and Ashwini Ponnappa dispatched Danish pair Niclas Nohr and Amalie Magelund with ease. Indian duo defeated their opponents by 23-21, 21-18 and progressed to the second round. (UNI)