H S Prannoy, Sameer Verma reach pre-quarters of Swiss Open
Indian shuttlers H S Prannoy and Sameer Verma continued their winning run in the men’s singles competition to advance to the pre-quarterfinals of the USD 120,000 Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold in Basel.
In Wednesday night matches, 13th seed Prannoy beat Germany’s Lars Schaenzler 21-16 21-13 in a little over half an hour match to set up a meeting with 2010 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Rajiv Ouseph of England, seeded sixth.
Young Sameer also continued to punch above his weight, notching up a stunning 21-19 22-20 win over fourth seed Chinese Wang Zhengming.
He will next take on Thailand’s Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk, seeded 16th.
READ: Saina Nehwal, B Sai Praneeth reach pre-quarterfinals of Swiss Open
However, it was the end of 11th seed Ajay Jayaram’s campaign as his fight ended with a narrow 21-23 18-21 loss to Kenichi Tago of Japan on Wednesday night.
B Sai Praneeth also made it to the pre-quarterfinals after prevailing over Uzbekistan’s Artyom Savatyugin 21-7 21-10.
He will next take on second seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei.
Two-time champion and top seed Saina Nehwal and P V Sindhu also reached the pre-quarterfinals of the women’s singles competition.
Olympic bronze medallist Saina saw off Germany’s Karin Schnaase 21-7 21-15 in 33 minutes to set up a meeting with Czech’s Kristina Gavnholt at St Jakobshalle in Basel.
Double World Championships bronze winner Sindhu, seeded sixth, sent Ireland’s Chole Magee packing 21-19 21-10 in a 31-minute first round match.
She will face Pai Yu Po of Chinese Taipei in the pre-quarterfinals.
