Sai Praneeth, Prannoy make winning start at World Championships

SINGAPORE, April 14, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Sai Praneeth of India competes during a quarterfinal match against Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk of Thailand at the OUE Singapore Open held in Singapore, April 14, 2017. Sai Praneeth won 2-1. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey/IANS)


India’s Sai Praneeth and HS Prannoy made convincing starts at the BWF World Championships to advance to the second round on Monday.

Praneeth, ranked 19th, defeated 66th-ranked Jason Anthony Ho-Shue of Canada 21-17, 21-16 in a first-round clash lasting 39 minutes.

In another men’s singles first-round match, world number 30 Prannoy fought back to beat 93rd-ranked Eetu Heino of Finland 17-21, 21-10, 21-11.

India got a favourable result in the women’s doubles also with Meghana Jakkampudi and S Poorvisha Ram getting past the Guatemala pairing of Diana Corleto Soto and Nikte Alejandra Sotomayor 21-10, 21-18 to enter the second round.

The other Indians in fray, seventh seed Kidambi Srikanth and 10th seed Sameer Verma, play their first round later on Monday.