Thailand Open: Lakshya, Kiran advance; Ashmita out
It is the first time that Kiran, ranked 59 in the world, has reached the quarter-final of a BWF World Tour Super 500 event.
BANGKOK: Lakshya Sen progressed to the Thailand Open Super 500 badminton tournament men’s singles quarter-finals with an upset win over Li Shi Feng of China here on Thursday.
World No.23 Lakshya defeated the fourth-seeded Chinese 21-17, 21-15 in a Round-of-16 match and will face qualifier Leong Jun Hao from Malaysia in the last-eight stage.
Kiran George, who made it to the main draw after coming through the qualifiers, also advanced to the quarter-finals after beating World No.26 Weng Hong Yang of China 21-11, 21-19.
It is the first time that Kiran, ranked 59 in the world, has reached the quarter-final of a BWF World Tour Super 500 event.
In women’s singles, an out-of-form Saina Nehwal lost 11-21, 14-21 to third seed and World No.5 He Bing Jao of China in a last-16 match while Ashmita Chaliha went down 18-21, 13-21 to Carolina Marin of Spain in another contest.
The men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty lost its pre-quarterfinal match 26-24, 11-21, 17-21 to Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and Bagas Maulana of Indonesia.