Saina Nehwal advances into India Open quarters

Defending champion Saina Nehwal and two-time World Championship bronze medallist PV Sindhu advanced to the quarter-finals but it turned out to be a dismal day for star shuttlers Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei, who crashed out of the India Open Super Series on Thursday.

Sindhu was a little circumspect during the match and committed a few unforced errors before surpassing Thailand’s Busanan Ongbumrungphan 17-21, 21-19, 21-16 in a women’s singles match that lasted an hour and 16 minutes here.

She will next take on Korea’s Bae Yeon Ju, who beat Japan’s Yui Hashimoto 21-16, 21-10 in another match.

Later in the day, Saina saw off Nitchaon Jindapol of Thailand 21-19, 21-14 to set up a clash with Korean fifth seed Sung Ji Hyun.