Bahrain International Challenge: 3rd seed Sai Praneeth romps into quarters

Third seed Sai Praneeth of India did not break much sweat as he romped past fellow countryman Aditya Prakash 21-13, 21-14 to march into the quarterfinals of the UAE Exchange 2012 Bahrain International Challenge Badminton Championship, being played at the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam’s Diamond Jubilee Hall in Segaiya, Manama.

The 71st shuttler – the lone Indian to be seeded in the tournament – was hardly offered any serious resistance by the 408th ranked Prakash as he sailed through the opening game at 21-13.

Praneeth maintained his rich vein of form in the second game as well, closing it at 21-14.

The Andhra boy will now take on Indonesia’s Adi Pratama for a berth in the semifinals.

Another Indian H.S Prannoy also made it to the quarterfinals. The Indian, who is ranked 87th in the world, made short work of another fellow Indian Vikas Harsha 21-16, 21-19. The 20-year-old now takes on another Indian, 558th ranked Abhimanyu Singh for a place in the semi-finals.

125th ranked K Srikanth became the fourth Indian to reach the quarterfinals and will now clash with Thailand’s Suppanyu Avihingasanon, who got rid of India’s 527th ranked Oscar Bansal.

Meanwhile, top seed and world number 43 Niluka Karunaratne also advanced to the quarterfinals, easing past India’s 1399th ranked Sarang Lakhanee 21-13, 21-13.

All the quarterfinal matches would be played later today.