New Delhi, September 18 (HS): Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu and the men’s doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty stormed into the quarterfinals of the China Masters in Shenzhen on Thursday with commanding straight-game victories.
Sindhu, world-ranked 14, delivered a dominant performance against sixth-ranked Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand, winning 21-15, 21-15 in just 41 minutes. With this triumph, the 30-year-old Indian improved her head-to-head record against Chochuwong to 6-5. Sindhu will now face top seed An Se-young of South Korea in the quarterfinals — a daunting challenge, as the Korean star has beaten Sindhu on all seven previous occasions, six of them in straight games.
Speaking after her win, Sindhu said she was pleased to regain momentum following her early exit at the Hong Kong Open last week. “I am happy with the win. For me, it was important to stay alert from the very beginning and give my 100 percent. Chochuwong is a very good player. We had a tough match at the Indonesia Open earlier this year, so I knew I needed to maintain focus. After winning the first game, I made sure to stay even more cautious in the second,” she explained.
Highlighting the intensity of the match, Sindhu added: “Every point mattered, so staying close was crucial. I am glad I pulled through and gave my best performance. Straight-game wins always give you confidence, but you must also be prepared for long matches and keep up the pace. Now my focus is on preparing for tomorrow.”
Sindhu also spoke about working with India’s women’s singles coach Muhammad Irwansyah Adi Pratama, formerly with the Indonesian men’s team. “It has been a very good partnership. As a coach, he is giving his best, and as an athlete, it is my responsibility to do the same. We have adjusted and figured out what needs to change, and that is paying off.”
In men’s doubles, world no. 1 pair Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty outclassed Chinese Taipei’s Wang Chi-lin and Chiu Hsiang-chieh 21-13, 21-12 in just 33 minutes. The reigning Asian Games gold medalists will next face the home pairing of Ren Xiang Yu and Zhu Hao Nan in the last eight.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
