Lucknow, Jan 22 (IANS) Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu, Parupalli Kashyap and Kidambi Srikanth reached the quarter-finals of the $120,000 Syed Modi International India Masters at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium here Thursday.
While Olympic bronze medallist Saina defeated compatriot Rituparna Das 21-15, 21-9 in 36 minutes, two-time World Championships bronze medallist Sindhu needed 31 minutes to battle past Singapore’s Jiayuan Chen 21-18, 21-14.
World No.4 Saina will face Arundhati Pantawane in the last eight clash, while World No.11 Sindhu will take on Thai Porntip Buranaprasertsuk in the next match.
Reigning world champion Carolina Marin of Spain was stretched to three games by Indian Tanvi Lad. Marin won 21-23, 21-19, 21-6 in an hour and a minute. Thailand’s Chochuwong Pornpawee will face Marin in the quarter-final.
In the men’s singles competition, the 2014 Commonwealth Games champion Kashyap advanced as his Israeli opponent Misha Zilberma retired hurt. Kashyap was leading 21-16, 20-12 when Misha decided not to continue. Third seed Kashyap will meet Zi Liang Derek Wong in the next match.
World No.4 and top seed Srikanth dug deep to move past Malaysian Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin 22-20, 20-22, 21-11 in a marathon encounter that lasted an hour and seven minutes.
India’s R.M.V. Gurusaidutt will take on compatriot H.S. Prannoy in the last eight contest.