Dec. 9: Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal advanced to the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Super Series with a comfortable straight-game win over Salakjit Ponsana of Thailand in Wanchai on Thursday. The World number two Indian took just 26 minutes to get the better of Ponsana 21-10, 21-12 in the second round of the women’s singles event.
However, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist P. Kashyap lost in straight-games to fifth seed Jin Chen of China. Kashyap was defeated 15-21, 18-21. Saina surged ahead from 4-4 to a eight point lead and then extended the lead to 16-5 and 18-10 before pocketing the first game comfortably. The second game was no different as she opened a five point lead and carried on.