Saili and Verma brothers keep India in hunt in singles

Saili Rane, among women, and Verma brothers, Sameer and Sourabh, kept the Indian challenge alive in singles in the USD 15,000 Tata Open Indian International Badminton Challenge here today.
While defending women's and national champion Ruthvika Shivanji Gudde was knocked out in three games by the top seed, third seed Saili, the world no. 92, got past Indonesia's Erlina Kurnianti in straight games to enter the semi finals at the Cricket Club of India's courts.
Eighth-seeded Shivani, from Hyderabad, gave a tough fight before going down in just under an hour to world no. 37 and no. 1 seed, Jing Yi Tee of Malaysia in three games.

The Malaysian girl won against the 109th ranked Indian 21-18 18-21 21-19.
Also making their exit from the women's singles were India's fourth-seeded former champion P C Thulasi and seventh seed Tanvi Lad.
Malaysia's Yen Mei Ho, seeded two rungs lower, ousted Thulasi 21-18 21-19 in one hour while second-seeded Thai girl Pornpawee Chochuwong got past Tanvi 21-15 21-15 in 40 minutes.

Saili will meet Chochuwon in the semis tomorrow.
In the men's singles, third seed Sameer Verma defeated compatriot and seventh seed Subhankar Dey 21-17 21-14 to make the last four along with elder brother Sourabh who ousted Malaysian rival R Satheishtharan 21-18 21-19.

However, fourth seed Anand Pawar made his exit, beaten 21-16 21-16 in 43 minutes by no. 8 seed Lim Chi Wing of Malaysia.
Sameer will meet no. 5 seed Joo Ven Soong of Malaysia in the semifinals following the latter's straight-game win over Singapore's Zin Rei Ryan Ng in the quarters.
Sourabh will clash with Lim in the other semifinal.