Macau Open: PV Sindhu reaches pre-quarterfinals

Macau, Nov 26: Defending champion PV Sindhu reached the pre-quarterfinals of the Macau Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament in women's singles while HS Prannoy and B Sai Praneeth too tasted victories in men's singles as Indian shuttlers had a good day in office, here today.

World No. 10 Sindhu took a little less than half an hour to dispose off Chinese Taipei's Hung Shih Han 21-19 21-15 in a women's singles match. The second-seeded Indian had beaten Han in a trilling contest during the 2011 Vietnam Grand Prix Open.

Sindhu will next take on Indonesia's Lindaweni Fanetri tomorrow. HS Prannoy and B Sai Praneeth also entered the last-16 with contrasting victories at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion.

Third seed Prannoy, who had won the Indonesian Masters in September this year, thrashed Indonesia's Andre Marteen 21-18 21-16 in a men's singles match, while eighth seed Praneeth got the better off Singapore's Ronald Susilo 21-15 21-18 in a 30-minute match.

Prannoy will take on Chinese Taipei's Lin Yu Hsien, while Praneeth face Indonesia's Sony Dwi Kuncoro tomorrow. However, it was curtains for P C Thulasi as the Indian women shuttler suffered a 12-21 17-21 loss to Hsu Ya Ching of Chinese Taipei in a 34-minute contest.

PTI