PENANG (MALAYSIA), Jan 21: Top Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth advanced to the quarterfinals of the USD 120,000 Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold after notching up contrasting victories in the women�s and men�s singles competition here today.
Two-time bronze medallist at World Championship, Sindhu continued her unbeaten run as she edged out Japan�s Kaori Imabeppu 21-13, 13-21, 21-14 in a hard-fought battle to take her overall record against the Japanese to 3-0, having beaten her at the World Championship and the Japan Open in 2012 and 2013 respectively. The third seeded Indian will next take on Indonesia�s Lindaweni Fanetri.
Second seed Srikanth, who clinched the India Super Series and Swiss Open last year, thrashed 16th seed Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand 21-17 21-10 in a men�s singles match to take a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head encounter. The World No. 9 from Guntur will lock horns with China�s Huang Yuxiang next.
Ajay Jayaram, seeded 10th, also progressed to the last eight round but he had to fight it out to register a 11-21, 21-8, 22-20 win over Malaysia�s Zulfadli Zulkiffli. Jayram will now face the winner of another third round match between top seed Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and Singapore�s Zi Liang Derek Wong.
However, it was curtains for Indian women�s doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa as they lost their second round match 14-21, 17-21 against the Japanese duo of Shizuka Matsuo and Mami Naito in just 37 minutes. � PTI
