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Saina enters quarters of Malaysia Open
India's Saina Nehwal registered comprehensive victory over Ayane Kurihara of Japan to storm into the quarterfinals of the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament at Alor Setar on Thursday.
India's Saina Nehwal registered comprehensive victory over Ayane Kurihara of Japan to storm into the quarterfinals of the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament at Alor Setar on Thursday.
Top seed Saina, who is the only Indian left in the fray, had an easy outing as she comfortably got the better of her Japnese opponent 21-14, 21-17.
The Hyderabadi will now take on Chinese qualifier Wang Lin, who upset another Japanese, seeded-sixth Eriko Hirose, 21-11, 21-15.
Saina had a forgettable last week as she was handed a shock first-round defeat in the India Open Super Series.
Saina No. 4, Sourabh jumps 45 places
India's Saina Nehwal remained steady at fourth place in the women's singles ranking while Sourabh Verma, who stunned some top players to reach the quarterfinal of the India Open Super Series badminton, leapfrogged 45 places to 173 in the men's singles.
India's Aditi Mutatkar figures way down at 78 after climbing four spots.
