Bhambri sisters through to quarter-finals in Noida

New Delhi, Aug 20 (UNI) It was a good day for India's 'Bhambri sisters' as both Ankita and Sanaa moved into the pre-quarter-finals of the singles event in ITF Women Tennis tournament being played in Noida.

Fouth seed Ankita had to battle hard to prevail over unseeded Thai girl Varatchaya Wongteanchai 4-6, 7-5, 6-1, while for sister Sanaa, who is seeded fifth in the tournament, it was a different ball game as her opponent Kumari-Sweta Solanki withdrew from the tie in the middle of the first set when she was trailing 3-2.

Seventh seed Sandhya Nagaraj is the other seeded Indian to book a pre-quarter-final berth with a straight set 6-2, 6-1 win over countrymate Asha Nanda Kumar.

India's Asmitha Easwarmurthi also registered a last 16 berth, winning 6-4, 6-1 against another Indian Omlata-Rai Kumari, while Vishakha Sheoren was outclassed 6-4, 6-0 by unseeded American Kelsey Sundaram.

Thailand's second seed Montinee Tangphong also eased past Parija maloo 6-1, 6-0 to move into the next round.

Meanwhile, in the doubles first round, the third seeded duo of Sophie Mulsap and Varunya Wongteanchai defeated unseeded Indo-American pair of Parija Maloo and Kesley Sundaram 6-3 6-1 to move into the quarter-finals, while Kakhandki Gadigeppa and Nanda Kumar of India upset fourth seeds Parul Goswami and Geeta Manohar 6-4 6-1.

UNI