Parupalli Kashyap roars into China Masters pre-quarters

Indian shuttler Parupalli Kashyap made an impressive comeback from a three-month injury lay-off as he stormed into the pre-quarterfinals of the men's singles event of the China Masters Grand Prix Gold after registering comfortable straight-games win over Thailand's Suppanyu Avihingsanon here on Wednesday.

Kashyap, whose ranking had fallen to 104 during the time that he was forced out of action due to a knee injury sustained earlier this year, swept aside his Thai opponent 21-16, 21-17 in the second round contest that lasted just 46 minutes at the Olympic sports center.

The 30-year-old Indian will now lock horns with third-seeded Qiao Bin of China for a place in the last-eight.

Harsheel Dani, the other Indian in the fray, also advanced to the last-16 after edging past China's Yan Runze 21-16, 22-20 in his men's singles clash. Dani has now set up a clash against another Chinese Sun Feixiang.

Meanwhile, Sai Uttejitha Rao Chukka and Sri Krishna Priya Kudaravalli bid adieu to the tournament after losing their respective women's singles event.

Sai slumped to a 4-21, 21-13, 12-21 defeat at the hands of Li Wenmei of China, while Sri Krishna suffered a 18-21, 11-21 loss to China's Li Yun.