China Masters: Pranaav-Akshay in Round 2, Srikanth exits

Pranaav and Akshay beat Singapore’s Yong Kai Terry Hee and Kean Hean Loh 21-18, 21-13. Top Indian shuttler K. Srikanth suffered yet another first round exit after losing to Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu Hsien 21-12, 21-17.

India's Akshay Dewalkar (right) and Pranaav Jerry Chopra advanced to the second round of China Masters.

Indian men’s doubles pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar crossed the opening hurdle, reaching the second round of the China Masters Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament here today.

Pranaav and Akshay beat Singapore’s Yong Kai Terry Hee and Kean Hean Loh 21-18, 21-13. They will meet seventh seeded Chinese pair of Wang Yilyu and Zhang Wen.

Eighth seeded Indian combo of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy, however, lost 19-21, 16-21 to Dutch pair of Ruud Bosch and Oliver Leydon-Davis in the opening round.

Swiss Open winner, H.S. Prannoy had beaten Malaysia’s Joo Ven Soong 19-21, 21-,14 21-18 in the opening round yesterday.

Top Indian shuttler K. Srikanth, however, suffered yet another first round exit after losing to Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu Hsien 21-12, 21-17. National champion Sameer Verma had withdrawn from the event.