Saina, Srikanth, Kashyap in Malaysia Open second round

Leading Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth progressed to the second round of the $500,000 Malaysia Open Superseries Premier at the Putra Stadium here on Wednesday.

While World No.2 Saina registered a comprehensive 21-13, 21-16 victory over Indonesian Maria Febe Kudumastuti, World No.4 Srikanth overcame Englishman Rajiv Ouseph 21-10, 15-21, 24-22 in 56 minutes in the first round.

Also advancing to the second round were Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap and World No.17 H.S. Prannoy.

While World No.13 Kashyap moved past South Korean Lee Dong Keun 21-15, 11-21, 21-14 in an hour and 11 minutes, Prannoy defeated a spirited Irishman Scott Evans 22-20, 21-18 in 40 minutes.

In the women's doubles category, 2011 World Championships bronze medallist Indian pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa got the better of the Indonesian pair of Keshya Nurvita Hanadia and Devi Tika Permatasari 21-14, 18-21, 21-16 in 48 minutes.

However, Indian men's doubles pair of Manu Attri and B. Sumeeth Reddy was handed a 11-21, 17-21 thrashing in 30 minutes by the Indonesian team of Andrei Adistia and Hendra Aprida Gunawan.

In the second round on Thursday, Olympic bronze medallist and World No.2 Saina will face Chinese qualifier Xue Yao. Xue defeated Thailand's Busanan Ongbumrungpan 21-11, 11-21, 21-15.

The Hyderabadi is assured of the top rank when the Badminton World Federation (BWF) releases its latest rankings on Thursday.

Srikanth will face Indonesian qualifier Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka, who battled past Vietnam's Tien Minh Nguyen 18-21, 21-11, 21-14.

Kashyap faces a tall mountain to climb in the next round on Thursday as he will be up against reigning world champion and World No.1 Chen Long. The Chinese beat Japanese Takuma Ueda 22-20, 21-16 to reach the second round.

Prannoy also has a stiff task as he will be facing five-time world champion Lin Dan of China. The two-time Olympic champion entered the second round after his opponent Tommy Sugiarto, who defeated him at the Indian Open last week, retired hurt.

Hong Kong's Hu Yun upset Danish sixth seed Viktor Axelsen 21-17, 13-21, 21-16 to set up the second round contest against Japanese Kento Momota, who beat Thai qualifier Boonsak Ponsana 21-17, 21-10.

All the top contenders in the women's singles competition -- Olympic champion Li Xuerui, current world champion Carolina Marin, former world champions Yihan Wang and Ratchanok Intanon and former world No.1 Shixian Wang -- entered the second round.