Top Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth notched up comfortable victories over their respective opponents to make an impressive start at the BWF World Championship in Nanjing, China today.
Saina, defeated Turkey’s Aliye Demirbag 21-17 21-8 in the second round to set up a pre-quarterfinal clash with 2013 champion Ratchanok Inthanon of Thailand. The Olympic medallist Indian had received a bye in the first round.
Fifth seed Srikanth dispatched Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen 21-15 21-16 in his campaign opener to join compatriots HS Prannoy, Sameer Verma and B Sai Praneeth in the pre-quarters.
Srikanth will face Spain’s Pablo Abian next, while Praneeth will meet another spaniard, Luís Enrique Penalver. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa also entered the doubles pre-quarterfinals.