Sindhu-Saina put up a strong performance to make it to the second round, Prannoy beat Sitthikom

Singapore Open 2022: PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy and Saina Nehwal advanced to the second round of the Singapore Open 2022 with wins in the first round on Wednesday.

Top Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy and Saina Nehwal on Wednesday advanced to the second round of the Singapore Open 2022 with wins in the first round but Kidambi Srikanth suffered a crushing loss to compatriot Mithun Manjunath.

Sindhu, ranked seventh in the badminton world rankings, was brilliant against Belgium and world number 36 Lianne Tan to win the women’s singles match 21-15, 21-11 in 29 minutes.

The two-time Olympic medalist took time to settle down in the match. After the score was tied at 7-all in the first game, the third seeded Indian shuttler found her way and dominated the match from there.

Sindhu will take on Vietnam and world number 59 Thu Linh Nguyen in the second round of the BWF Super 500 badminton tournament on Thursday.

In men’s singles, Mithun Manjunath of India won the match against his high-ranked compatriot Kidambi Srikanth 21-17, 15-21, 21-18. Later in the day, Thomas Cup hero HS Prannoy of India defeated Thailand’s Sitthikom Thammasin 21-13, 21-16. The 19th-ranked Indian will now face world number four Chou Tien Chen .

London 2012 bronze medalist Saina Nehwal also made it to the second round by defeating Malvika Bansod 21-18, 21-14. However, former Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap lost 14-21, 15-21 to fifth seed Jonatan Christie of Indonesia.

On the other hand, Ashmita Chaliha, promoted from the qualifier, put on a scintillating performance by beating Thailand and world number 12 Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-16, 21-11.