In Badminton, defending champion Sameer Verma and former champions Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap progressed to the quarterfinals of the Syed Modi International Badminton World Super Tour 300 with contrasting victories in Lucknow today.
Second-seeded Saina defeated Amolika Singh Sisodiya 21-14, 21-9, while Kashyap saw off Indonesia’s Firman Abdul Kholik 9-21, 22-20, 21-8.
Third seeded Sameer beat China’s Zhao Junpeng 22-20, 21-17 and will meet China’s Zhou Zeqi.
Former Olympic bronze medallist, Saina will next face eight seeded compatriot Rituparna Das, who beat fellow Indian Shruti Mundada 21-11, 21-15. Kashyap will meet Thailand’s Sitthikom Thammasin, seeded 8th.