Ruthvika, Siril, Pranaav-Sikki enter finals of Russia Open

Indian shuttlers Ruthvika Shivani Gadde and Siril Verma continued their impressive run to storm into the finals of women's and men's singles events at the Russian Open Grand Prix here today.
Fourth seed Ruthvika stunned local favourite and second seed Ksenia Polikarpova 22-20 21-13 in the semifinal that lasted exactly 30 minutes.
The 18-year-old Indian, who clinched the gold medal at SAF Games, will take on another Russian Evgeniya Kosetskaya in the summit clash tomorrow.
Kosetskaya posted an upset win over compatriot and top seed Natalia Perminova 19-21 21-16 21-8 in the other semifinal match at the Sport Hall Olympic.

In men's singles, Siril Verma, who had reached the finals of the World Junior Championships in November last year, also defeated a Russian in Anatoliy Yartsev in 32 minutes to book his place in the final.
Verma, who burst onto the scene after wining the Junior Asian Under-15 Championships and Badminton Youth Asia Championships in 2013, will face top seed Zulfadli Zulkiffli of Malaysia in the final.
The mixed doubles pair of N Sikki Reddy and Pranaav Jerry Chopra, who clinched the Brazil Open Grand Prix title last month, also reached the final with an easy 21-11 21-17 win over local duo of Anatoliy Yartsev and Evgeniya Kosetskaya.

The Indian pair will play Russia's Vladimir Ivanov and Valeria Sorokina in the title clash tomorrow.