Thailand Open: Four Indians, including Saina, in quarters

New Delhi - India’s badminton star Saina Nehwal advanced to the women’s quarterfinals of the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold in Bangkok defeating Chinese Li Han 21-17, 21-13 Thursday. Sourabh Verma, Sameer Verma and Sai Praneeth made the last eight stage in the men’s category.

World No.5 Saina took 42 minutes to get past the Chinese in the second round. She next plays Thailand’s Sapsiree Taerattanachai in a last-eight match Friday.

Taerattanachai came from behind to beat Kaori Imabeppu of Japan 20-22, 21-19, 21-15.

Another Indian P.V. Sindhu suffered a 12-21, 23-25 at the hands of Wang Lin of China.

In the men’s singles, three Indians reached the quarterfinals.

World no. 42 Sourabh beat 28th-ranked Alamsyah Yunus of Indonesia 18-21, 21-13, 22-20, He now faces another Indonesian, Sony Dwi Kuncoro.

Praneeth battled for a 13-21, 21-18, 22-20 win against Malaysia’s Choong Hann Wong and meets Chen Yuekun of China in the next round.

Sameer defeated Teck Zhi Soo 21-18, 21-18, setting up a quarterfinal clash with Chinese qualifier Gao Huan.