India’s Saina Nehwal today defeated Dinar Dyah Ayustine of Indonesia to go through to the quarterfinals of the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament.
After going down in the first game, the former world number 1 rebounded strongly to register a 17-21, 21-18, 21-12 win over her Indonesian opponent.
With this win, Saina has now set up a clash against Zhang Yiman of China for a place in last four.
Saina is India’s best bet in the tournament after Rio Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu withdrew from the tournament.
Meanwhile, in men's singles, Parupalli Kashyap, making a comeback after a long layoff, bowed out of the tournament losing his second round match to Chinese Taipei's Lin Yu Hsien 13-21, 20-22.
In a match which lasted 45 minutes, Kashyap gave away the first game easily but in the second game he displayed some quality strokes -- he, however, failed to overpower his opponent.
In men's doubles category, it was end of road for Indian pair Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy who were beaten by Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Hendra Wijaya of Singapore 22-20, 21-19.
The Indian duo started the proceedings on a good note but after a hard fought battle they lost the first game.
The second game saw both sides battling for each point but the Singapore pair proved superior and clinched the issue.
Among other Indians in the fray, B. Sai Praneeth was to play his second round match against fifth-seed Wong Wing Ki Vincent of Hong Kong.
