Australian Open: Sindhu and Sameer start well

Other Indians, except Prannoy, advance in singles

On his way: Sameer Verma overcame Lee Zii Jia in the first round of the Australian Open on Wednesday.

India had a mixed day in the office as top shuttlers P.V. Sindhu and Sameer Verma progressed to the second round but H.S. Prannoy made an early exit at the $150,000 Australian Open World Tour Super 300 tournament here on Wednesday.

World No. 5 Sindhu defeated Indonesia’s Choirunnisa 21-14, 21-9, while Sameer exacted revenge against Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia 21-15, 16-21, 21-12 in a opening round men’s singles match. The Indian had lost to Lee at the Sudirman Cup last month.

Among others, B. Sai Praneeth beat Korea’s Lee Dong Keun 21-16, 21-14 and P. Kashyap also cleared the opening hurdle, entering the second round with a 21-16, 21-15 win over Thailand’s Suppanyu Avihingsanon.

He will next cross swords with the great Lin Dan who took out Prannoy 21-18, 21-19.

In men’s doubles, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated compatriots Manu Attri and B. Sumeeth Reddy 21-12, 21-16. However, Ashwini Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy lost 21-14, 21-13 to the Korean combination of Baek Ha Na and Kim Hye Rin.

The results: Sameer Verma bt Lee Zii Jia (Mas) 21-15, 16-21, 21-12; B. Sai Praneeth bt Lee Dong Keun (Kor) 21-16, 21-14; P. Kashyap bt Suppanyu Avihingsanon (Tha) 21-16, 21-15; Lin Dan (Chn) bt H.S. Prannoy 21-18, 21-19. Doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty bt Manu Attri & B. Sumeeth Reddy 21-12, 21-16.

Women: P.V. Sindhu bt Choirunnisa (Ina) 21-14, 21-9. Doubles: Baek Ha Na & Kim Hye Ri (Kor) bt Ashwini Ponnappa & N. Sikki Reddy 21-14, 21-13 .