P V Sindhu, R M V Gurusaidutt, Jwala-Ashwini reach quarterfinals of Badminton Asia Championships

Gimcheon (South Korea), April 24 (IANS): P.V. Sindhu, R.M.V. Gurusaidutt and women’s doubles pair Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa led India’s charge by qualifying into the quarterfinals of the $200,000 Badminton Asia Championships at the Gimcheon Indoor Stadium here Thursday.

World No. 10 Sindhu finally overcame Japan’s Eriko Hirose 14-21, 21-13, 21-18 for the first time in four meetings in a marathon women’s singles match which lasted an hour and 13 minutes.

In the last eight clash, the 2013 World Championship bronze medallist will take on Thai Ongbumrungpan Busanan, who beat local third seed Yeon Ju Bae. The Indian can take heart from the fact that she has an unbeaten 2-0 record against the Thai.

Gurusaidutt also progressed to the men’s singles last eight as he beat Chinese Taipei’s Wang Tzu Wei in their first ever match. The Indian won 17-21, 21-13, 21-19 in exactly an hour and will face China’s Liu Kai in the next round.

Meanwhile, Jwala and Ashwini struck form at the right time as the combine beat Thai third seeds Aroonkesorn Duanganong and Voravichitchaikul Kunchala 21-11, 21-18 in half an hour to advance to the quarterfinals of the continental championships.

This is the Indian duo’s second win over the third seeds in as many meetings and they will next take on Malaysian pair Anscelly Amelia Alicia and Soong Fie Cho.

However, it was disappointment for Parupalli Kashyap who went down to Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Jen Hao after he lost a close contest 23-25, 17-21 in exactly an hour. Though the Hyderabadi had won their only encounter last year at the All England Open, Hao exacted revenge by winning in straight games this time.