Lucknow, Jan 23 (IANS) Shuttlers Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth and Parupalli Kashyap reached the semi-finals of the $120,000 Syed Modi International India Masters at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium here Friday.
World No.3 and top seed Saina defeated compatriot and World No.71 Arundhati Pantawane 21-18, 21-17 in 35 minutes, while World No.9 Sindhu battled past Thai Porntip Buranaprasertsuk 8-21, 21-11, 21-14 in 49 minutes.
In the last four contest, Olympic bronze medallist Saina will face Thai Nichaon Jindapon, who moved past Indian P.C. Thulasi 21-16, 20-22, 21-12 in an hour five minutes. The 24-year-old Saina leads 2-0 in career meetings against World No.22 Jindapon.
Two-time World Championships bronze medallist Sindhu faces a tough challenger in reigning world champion Carolina Marin of Spain, who needed just 29 minutes to thrash Thai Chochuwong Pornpawee 21-11, 21-13. The 19-year-old Sindhu trails 1-2 in career meetings against the 21-year-old Spaniard.
In the men’s singles competition, World No.5 Srikanth advanced after Malaysian fifth seed Wei Feng Chong was retired hurt as the second game ended. The 21-year-old Srikanth lost the first game 17-21 before winning the second game 21-12.
Srikanth, who defeated five-time world champion Lin Dan to lift the Chinese Grand Prix Gold 2014 title, will face compatriot H.S. Prannoy, who beat countryman R.M.V. Gurusaidutt 21-18, 21-19 in 41 minutes.
Commonwealth Games 2014 champion Kashyap registered a facile 21-18, 21-9 win over Singaporean Zi Liang Derek Wong.
In the other semi-final, World No.15 Kashyap will meet Denish second seed Viktor Axelsen, who moved past Indian B. Sai Praneeth 15-21, 21-17, 21-16 in an hour and four minutes.