Kidambi Srikanth, PV Sindhu Enter Second Round but Saina Nehwal, HS Prannoy Exit From Thailand Open
NDTV
Thailand Open: Kidambi Srikanth beat France's Brice Leverdez 18-21 21-10 21-16 in the men's singles first round match.
Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu huffed and puffed her way to the women's singles second round while Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy, the protagonists of India's historic Thomas Cup triumph, suffered contrasting fates in the opening round of Thailand Open in Bangkok on Wednesday. Sindhu, seeded sixth and ranked seventh in the world, staved off a spirited challenge from world number 62, USA's Lauren Lam 21-19, 19-21, 21-18 to set up a clash with Sim Yu Jin, who had played a pivotal role in Korea's Uber Cup win.
Fresh from playing a major role in the Thomas Cup victory, Srikanth, seeded eighth, produced a gritty show to get the better of Brice Leverdez of France 18-21, 21-10, 21-16 in 49 minutes.
The World number 11 Indian will next face Ireland's Nhat Nguyen, who defeated Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus of Denmark 21-12, 23-21 in the first round.
Prannoy, who won the decisive third singles during the quarterfinals and semifinals of Thomas Cup, went down fighting 17-21, 21-15, 15-21 to Daren Liew of Malaysia.
Among other Indians in the fray, Ashwini Bhat K and Shikha Gautam beat Thailand's Kittipak Dubthuk and Prinda Pattanawaritthipan 21-12, 21-17 to enter the second round.
