Sindhu, two-time Olympic medallist, beat world No. 6 Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-15, 21-15 in 41 minutes
Shenzhen
India enjoyed a successful day at the China Masters Super 750 badminton tournament on Thursday as P. V. Sindhu and the men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty advanced confidently into the quarterfinals. Both secured straight-game victories, displaying strong form and focus.
Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, defeated world No. 6 Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand 21-15, 21-15 in just 41 minutes. The win improved her head-to-head record against the Thai to 6-5. Sindhu, who had faced a first-round exit at the Hong Kong Open last week, said she entered this match determined to stay alert and avoid mistakes. She acknowledged the challenge of playing in windy indoor conditions but credited her recent progress to working with coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama.
The victory sets up a tough quarterfinal clash for Sindhu against world No. 1 An Se Young of South Korea, who holds a perfect 7-0 record over her. Sindhu admitted the upcoming match would be a major test but expressed confidence in her preparation and strategy.
In men’s doubles, world No. 3 duo Satwik and Chirag outclassed Wang Chi-lin and Chiu Hsiang-chieh of Chinese Taipei 21-13, 21-12 in only 33 minutes. Chirag noted their confidence was the key difference compared to recent matches. Satwik highlighted how they focused on sharper starts, reducing errors, and managing points more effectively.
The Indian pair now face China’s Ren Xiang Yu and Xie Haonan in the next round. Both players expressed excitement about the challenge, adding that Shenzhen holds a special place as they aim to reach the podium again.
