Sindhu, Gurusaidutt progress to Asian Championships quarters

P.V. Sindhu and R.M.V. Gurusaidutt Thursday led India's charge into the singles quarter-finals of the Badminton Asia Championships being held at the Gimcheon Indoor Stadium here.

The World No.10 Sindhu finally overcame Japan's Eriko Hirose for the first time in four meetings 14-21, 21-13, 21-18 in a marathon women's singles match which lasted an hour and 13 minutes.

In the last eight clash, the 2013 World Championship bronze medallist will take on the winner of the match between Thai Ongbumrungpan Busanan and local third seed Yeon Ju Bae.

Gurusaidutt also progressed to the men's singles last eight as he beat Chinese Taipei's Wang Tzu Wei in their first ever match. The Indian won 17-21, 21-13, 21-19 in exactly an hour and will face China's Liu Kai in the next round.

Meanwhile, it was disappointment for Parupalli Kashyap who went down to Chinese Taipei's Hsu Jen Hao after he lost a close contest 23-25, 17-21 in exactly an hour. Though the Hyderabadi had won their only encounter yet last year at the All England Open, Hao exacted revenge by winning in straight games this time.

Women's doubles specialists Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa play their second round match later in the day.