Sindhu, Kashyap advance in Malaysia GP Gold

Leading Indian shuttler P.V. Sindhu reached the women's singles quarter-finals of the $120,000 Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold while Commonwealth Games gold medallist Parupalli Kashyap entered the men's singles pre-quarterfinals at the Stadium Perpaduan Kuching here Thursday.

Two-time World Championships bronze medallist Sindhu, who won the title here in 2013, defeated South Korean Kim Hyo Min 21-14, 21-12 in 41 minutes, while third seed Kashyap beat Indonesian Jonatan Christie 13-21 22-20, 21-12 in an hour and two minutes.

Male shuttler Ajay Jayaram also reached pre-quarters, defeating Indonesia's Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka 23-21, 17-21, 24-22 in an hour and 18 minutes.

B. Sai Praneeth registered a facile 21-15, 21-7 win over Lin Chia Hsuan of Chinese Taipei, while Aditya Prakash beat Indonesian Fikri Ihsandi Hadmadi 21-17, 18-21, 21-13 in an hour and eight minutes. Subhankar Dey beat Malaysian Teck Zhi Soo 21-19, 17-21, 21-10 in 55 minutes.

In the men's doubles competition, Tarun Kona and Santosh Ravuri lost 9-21, 14-21 in 25 minutes to the Japanese pair of Kenta Kazuno and Kazushi Yamada. Tarun, however, won in the mixed doubles category. He partnered N. Sikki Reddy to beat Indonesian pair of Fran Kurniawan and Komala Dewi 23-21, 22-20.

The Indo-Malaysian mixed doubles pair of Prajakta Sawant and Vountus Indra Mawan lost 12-21, 15-21 to Indonesian pair of Fran Kurniawan and Komala.