German Open: Srikanth, Kashyap chart contrasting paths to pre-quarterfinals

Indian ace shuttlers Kidambi Srikanth and Parupalli Kashyap advanced to the pre-quarterfinals after notching up contrasting victories in the men’s singles competition of the USD 120,000 German Grand Prix Gold.

World No. 10 Srikanth, who clinched the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold at Lucknow in January this year, struggled past qualifier Erik Meijs of The Netherlands 15-21 21-6 21-16 in a 48-minute match at RWE Sporthalle.

The sixth seed will take on World No. 16 NG Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong, seeded 12th, in the next round.

Commonwealth Games champion Kashyap, on the other hand, hardly broke any sweat as he zoomed past Irish qualifier Joshua Magee 21-12 21-11 in another match.

The 11th seeded Indian, who is making a comeback after recovering from a series of injuries, will face Korea’s Son Wan Ho, seeded eighth next.

It was however end of the road for young Sameer Verma as his fierce battle ended with a narrow 21-8 19-21 19-21 loss against Korea’s Lee Dong Keun, seeded 15th.

In men’s doubles, Indian pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy prevailed over English combo of Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge 21-16 19-21 21-17. They will take on Chinese Taipei’s Lee Sheng Mu and Tsai Chia Hsin.

Two-time bronze medallist at World Championship, P V Sindhu, who is going a slight dip in form recently, will meet World No. 16 Michelle Li of Canada. The duo has a 2-2 head-to-head record with Li having the upper hand in the last two encounter.