Saina Nehwal, B Sai Praneeth advance at Thailand Open

Title-contenders Saina Nehwal and B Sai Praneeth advanced to prequarterfinals of the Thailand Open after straight-game wins in the women's and men's singles competition respectively.

In Bangkok yesterday, Second seeded Saina brushed aside Slovakia's Martina Repiska 21-5, 21-10 in the opening round to set up a clash with Malaysia's Ying Ying Lee in the next round. Singapore Open champion Praneeth defeated Malaysia's R Satheishtharan 21-15, 21-13 in men's singles. 

National champion Sourabh Verma and Young woman shuttler Sai Uttejitha Rao



Chukka also reached the next round. Sourabh, seeded 12th, survived a challenge from compatriot Anand Pawar 21-17, 20-22, 21-14 in men's singles event, while Sai Uttejitha Rao put up a fight to defeat Indonesia's Jesica Muljati 13-21, 24-22, 27-25 in women's singles that lasted for an hour and 16 minutes.

However, it was a dismal day for other Indians with P Kashyap, Shreyansh Jaiswal and Subhankar Dey bowing out of the men's singles competition. Reshma Karthik and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde also crashed out in the opening round of women's singles.