Indians dominant in Syed Modi Masters, Saina, Sindhu, Srikanth, Kashyap in semis

Saina Nehwal

Lucknow, Jan 23 (IANS)

Shuttlers Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth and Parupalli Kashyap reached the semi-finals of the $120,000 Syed Modi International India Masters at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium on Friday.

World No.3 and top seed Saina defeated compatriot and World No.71 Arundhati Pantawane 21-18, 21-17 in 35 minutes, while World No.9 Sindhu battled past Thai Porntip Buranaprasertsuk 8-21, 21-11, 21-14 in 49 minutes.

In the last four contest, Olympic bronze medallist Saina will face Thai Nichaon Jindapon, who moved past Indian P.C. Thulasi 21-16, 20-22, 21-12 in an hour five minutes. The 24-year-old Saina leads 2-0 in career meetings against World No.22 Jindapon.

Two-time World Championships bronze medallist Sindhu faces a tough challenger in reigning world champion Carolina Marin of Spain, who needed just 29 minutes to thrash Thai Chochuwong Pornpawee 21-11, 21-13. The 19-year-old Sindhu trails 1-2 in career meetings against the 21-year-old Spaniard.

In the men's singles competition, World No.5 Srikanth advanced after Malaysian fifth seed Wei Feng Chong was retired hurt as the second game ended. The 21-year-old Srikanth lost the first game 17-21 before winning the second game 21-12.

Srikanth, who defeated five-time world champion Lin Dan to lift the Chinese Grand Prix Gold 2014 title, will face compatriot H.S. Prannoy, who beat countryman R.M.V. Gurusaidutt 21-18, 21-19 in 41 minutes.

Commonwealth Games 2014 champion Kashyap registered a facile 21-18, 21-9 win over Singaporean Zi Liang Derek Wong.

In the other semi-final, World No.15 Kashyap will meet Denish second seed Viktor Axelsen, who moved past Indian B. Sai Praneeth 15-21, 21-17, 21-16 in an hour and four minutes.