Kolkata: PV Sindhu continued her fine run as she progressed into the second round, even as HS Prannoy was knocked out from the Korean Open Super Series on Wednesday.
The world number 4 Sindhu comfortably brushed aside Ngan Yi Cheung of Hong Kong 21-13, 21-8 to bring up a comfortable victory in 2017.
The Hyderabadi shuttler who had faced Cheung just two weeks ago in the World Badminton championships, looked much more fresh and confident with her shots, defeating her opposition in straight
sets in just 34 minutes.
Parupalli Kashyap, who made India proud by reaching the US Open final earlier this year defeated Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Jen Hao 21-13, 21-06, to progress to the next round of the super series.
However, in what came as a shock to many, US Open champion HS Prannoy who along with Sindhu was expected to carry the Indian flag at the podium, was virtually knocked out of the Korean Open just in the second round.
B Sai Praneeth and Sameer Verma were the winners in the other men’s singles event. While B Sai Praneeth put aside the Chinese Taipe Jen Hao 21-13, 21-16 to progress, Sameer Verma won after putting up a brave fight against Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk of Thailand 21-13, 21-23, 21-9 in a match that lasted for almost an hour.
Playing his first match after the US Open 2017, Prannoy looked in fine touch, but will have try hard if he is to recover quickly and get back in form. He lost against NG Ka Long Angus 17-21, 23-21, 14-21 in a hard fought match that lasted for 64 minutes.Another Young Indian men on the foray Sourabh Verma followed suit as he lost 21-18, 19-21 avainst Kenta Nishimoto.
However, in the doubles event Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated the Malaysian pair of Khim Wah Lim and Lin Chia Yu 21-9, 22-24, 21-12 to keep the Indian hopes of another medal alive. But, Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy exited the tournament after tasting 11-21, 10-21 defeat against Korea’s Chung Eui Seok and Kim Duk Young.
In the mixed double’s event, Ashwini Ponnappa and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy were knocked out of the tournament after facing an 18-21, 19-21 defeat against Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet while Ashwini also bowed out of the women’s doubles along with partner Sikki after losing 19-21, 21-13, 17-21 to the Malaysian pair of Soong Fie Cho and Tee Jing Yi
In the mixed doubles event, the Indian pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy were knocked out the Korean open after losing against Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet 18-21, 19-21 in a match in which the Indian looked completely out of touch.
Meanwhile, Ashwini and Sikki lost the women’s doubles battle 19-21, 21-13, 17-21 against the Malaysian duo of Soong Fie Cho and Tee Jing Yi.