PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth advance in Madrid Masters

Star Indian shuttlers P V Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth won their respective first round matches in the Madrid Masters Badminton here on Wednesday.

But the doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty withdrew from the tournament after an injury to the former.

Double Olympic medallist and former world champion Sindhu made short work of Switzerland’s Jenjira Stadelmann 21-10 21-4.

World Championship silver medallist Srikanth defeated Sitthikom Thammassin of Thailand 21-11 25-27 23-21 in his round of 32 match.

The Indian duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag were up against Japanese pair Ayato Endo and Yuta Takei, only three days after winning a historic Swiss Open title, in their round of 32 match.

The Indian



pair withdrew following what looked like a knee injury to Satwiksairaj who was seen speaking to the officials and drawing their attention to his left knee. It was during the break of the first game and the Indians were trailing 9-11.

Meanwhile, Aakarshi Kashyap defeated sixth seed Michelle Li of Canada 12-21 21-15 21-18 in her first round match. Ashmita Chaliha beat Frenchwoman Leonice Huet 21-12 22-20.

The women’s doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand lost their first round contest against Japan’s Rena Miyaura and Ayako Sakuramoto.

In another men’s singles match, B Sai Praneeth beat Jan Louda 21-16 18-21 21-12. Priyanshu Rajawat won his men’s singles match against Victor Svendsen 18-21, 21-16 21-11. Kiran George beat compatriot Mithun Manjunath 21-16, 21-14.