Four Indians in quarters

Sydney, June 22 

Kidambi Srikanth and B Sai Praneeth eked out thrilling victories in the men’s singles second round to set up an all-Indian quarterfinal clash at the $750,000 Australian Open Super Series here today.

Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu and defending champion Saina Nehwal also advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s singles competition.

Srikanth, who had edged out Son Wan Ho in the semifinals of the Indonesia Open last week, once again got the better of the world No. 1 Korean, beating him 15-21 21-13 21-13 in a 57-minute clash.

Srikanth had taken his head-to-head record against the Korean to 4-4. “He’s someone who doesn’t attack too much, just keeps the rally going. You have to be steadier than him or you have to crack him. In these conditions it’s hard to go on an all-out attack. My training is paying off. I’m really confident about my fitness,” said Srikanth.

Sai Praneeth staved off a stiff challenge from China’s Huang Yuxiang, winning 21-15 18-21 21-13 in 64 minutes. Interestingly, Srikanth and Praneeth had clashed in the final of the Singapore Open in April with the latter emerging victorious.

In the women’s singles, fifth seed Sindhu defeated China’s Chen Xiaoxin 21-13 21-18 in 46 minutes. She will clash with world No. 1 and top seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei. 

Sindhu has lost six times to Tai Tzu, while beating her thrice, which included a victory at the Rio Olympics.

World No. 16 Saina survived a scare from little-known Soniia Cheah of USA (21-15 20-22 21-14) to set up a clash with sixth seeded Chinese Sun Yu. The former World No. 1 has defeated Sun six times, including the win in the final of the last year’s Australian Open. — PTI