Malaysia Masters: Saina, Sindhu, Prannoy through to 2nd round; Srikanth bows out

H S Prany stunned world number 10 Kanta Tsuneyama while ace Indian women shuttlers PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal also sailed into second round of Malaysia Masters, here on Wednesday. Prany, ranked 26th in world, took 34 minutes to send Tsuneyama packing with a 21-9 21-17 win in first round match.  Prany, however, runs into world number one and top seed Japanese Kento Momota, who has been in red-hot form, in second round on Thursday.

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Saina, Sindhu, Prany through to 2nd round

Momota defeated ar Indian Parupalli Kashyap 21-17 21-16 in a 43-minute first round match. World Championships bronze-medallist B Sai Praneeth and seasoned Kidambi Srikanth, though, bowed out of men's singles events. Reigning world champion Sindhu, seeded sixth, took just 35 minutes to beat Evgeniya Kosetskaya of Russia 21-15 21-13 in women's singles first round that lasted 35 minutes. World number six Sindhu will face Aya Ohori of Japan in second round on Thursday.  or Indian in fray, London Olympics bronze medallist Saina needed just 36 minutes to get better of Belgium's Lianne Tan. unseeded Saina brushed aside Tan 21-15 21-17 in ir first meeting against each or.   

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Both Sindhu and Saina have struggled recently, making a series of early exits with former failing to defend World Tour Finals crown last month. Earlier, Praneeth made a first round exit after going down tamely to Denmark's Rasmus Gemke 11-21 15-21 while Srikanth lost to Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien Chen 17-21 5-21 in only 30 minutes. 

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READ | Malaysia Masters: Saina Cruises To 2nd Round; Sai Praneeth, Srikanth Bow Out