US Open: Six Indians advance to pre-quarters

Canada Open champion Sai Praneeth and H. S. Prannoy are among the six Indian shuttlers to reach the pre-quarterfinals of the US Open.

H. S. Prannoy put on a fine show to adavance to the pre-quarterfinal round.

Six Indian shuttlers, including H. S. Prannoy and Sai Praneeth, advanced to the pre-quarterfinal round of the US Open Grand Prix here.

In men’s singles, sixth seed Sai, who clinched the Canada Open Grand Prix last week at Calgary, defeated Canada’s B. R. Sankeerth 21-15 21-7. He will next take on Japan’s Kazumasa Sakai, who defeated India’s RMV Gurusaidutt 21-17 21-12.

Fifth seed Prannoy brushed aside Ireland’s Joshua Magee 21-9 21-8 and will take on Canada Open finalist Korea’s Lee Hyun Il.

Young Pratul Joshi disposed Czech Republic’s Milan Ludik 21-18 21-13 and will battle compatriot Anand Pawar in the next round.

Fourth seed Ajay Jayaram, who hurt his shoulder at Calgary last week, also prevailed over Estonia’s Raul Must 21-14 21-9 and will take on Pedro Martins of Portugal next.

In women’s singles, Tanvi Lad ended the run of Guatemala’s Nikte Alejandra Sotomayor 21-6 21-9 to set up a clash with USA’s Beiwen Zhang.

Ruthvika Shivani Gadde, however, went down 19-21 21-15 18-21 to Ayumi Mine of Japan.