Sindhu, Srikanth advance in World badminton (Roundup)

Top Indian shuttlers P.V. Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth earned contrasting wins in their respective categories to advance at the World Championships, being held at the 9000-seater Istora Senayan here on Tuesday.

Coming back from a long injury layoff, 11th seed Sindhu had to work hard for 50 minutes to move past Danish Line Kjaersfeldt 11-21, 21-17, 21-16 in the women's singles second round. Though the two-time World Championship bronze medallist lost the first game, she found her rhythm to bounce back and win the next two games.

In the third round, the 20-year-old faces a tough task as she will go up against reigning Olympic champion and third seed Li Xuerui. The Chinese has a 2-1 advantage over Sindhu in career meetings.

"First game didn't go well, but overall it was okay. I could have played much better. It was a good match and even my opponent played well. Pre-quarters match is against Li Xuerui. Hope I play well," said Sindhu.

Later, men's singles third seed Srikanth got off to a positive start with a 21-10, 21-13 win over Australia's Michael Fariman in 24 minutes. The Guntur-born lad will next take on Chinese Taipei's Hsu Jen Hao against whom Srikanth won the only match played between them last year in Denmark.

"It was a good match. First rounds are always tricky and I am happy to finish it in two games. I am playing against Hsu Jen Hao in the next round. I have played him only once before. It will be a good match tomorrow and I want to play my best," World No.3 Srikanth said.

However, it was the end of the road for doubles pairs Manu Attri-B.-Sumeeth Reddy and Mohita Sahdev-Dhanya Nair with both combinations suffering first round losses in their respective categories.

While French combine Delphine Lansac-Emilie Lefel defeated Mohita and Dhanya 21-18, 21-16 in women's doubles, Chinese men's doubles pair of Cai Yun-Lu Kai eased past Attri and Reddy 21-9, 21-7 in 23 minutes.