Saina, Prannoy enter quarterfinals of Swiss Open

Two-time champion, Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy progressed to the quarter-finals after registering straight-game victories in women’s singles and men’s singles events respectively at the USD 120,000 Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament, here.

The Olympic bronze medallist saw off Kristina Gavnholt, world number 41 from Czech Republic, 21-18 21-17 in a 34-minute pre-quarterfinal contest last night. The Indian will next take on seventh seed Japanese Sayaka Sato.

Prannoy, seeded 13^th, also prevailed over 2010 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Rajiv Ouseph of England, seeded sixth, 21-13 21-18 to set up a clash with 16^th seed Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk of Thailand.

Sixth seed PV Sindhu, who also reached the quarterfinals, will meet China’s He Bingjiao next.