Saina, Chetan enter India Open semifinals
It’s only getting better for Saina Nehwal at the Yonex-Sunrise India Open. The top seed beat No. 6 Sayali Gokhale 21-4, 21-8 to storm into the semifinals on Friday, reports Anupma Tripathi.
It’s only getting better for Saina Nehwal at the Yonex-Sunrise India Open. The top seed beat No. 6 Sayali Gokhale 21-4, 21-8 to storm into the semifinals on Friday.
It took Saina only 24 minutes to wind up proceedings. “Though she put up a good fight, there was little to worry about,” said Saina. She next takes on Aprilia Yuswandari of Indonesia.
In men’s singles, Chetan Anand survived a scare again to win his quarterfinal match against Seang Tan Chun of Malaysia 21-15, 19-21, 21-16.
“Thankfully, it wasn’t as bad as yesterday,” said Chetan. “I was moving better today and engaged him in rallies.” The world No. 19 will be up against Yunus Alamsyah of Indonesia who thumped fourth seed Aravind Bhat.
Third seed P. Kashyap also advanced to the next level by beating compatriot Anand Pawar 12-21, 21-9, 21-12.
“I was low on energy and lost the first game in a jiffy. Later, I engaged him in long rallies and tired him out,” said Kashyap.
In another match, Guru Sai Dutt cruised into the semifinals after second seed Mohammad Hashim of Malaysia retired after the second game with a knee injury.
Jwala Gutta and Ashiwini Ponappa made it to the next round in women’s doubles by defeating Indonesia’s Gozali Jenna and A Variella 17-21, 21-14, 21-13.
The men’s doubles duo of Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas romped home with a straight games win over compatriots Tarun Kona and Pranav Chopra.