Saina Nehwal, Parupalli Kashyap start with wins
Lucknow: Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap notched up wins to make a positive start at the Syed Modi World Tour Super 300 here on Wednesday.
Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N. Sikki Reddy cras-hed out in the mixed doubles opening round 14-21, 11-21 to China’s Ren Xian-gyu and Zhou Chaomin.
Second seeded Saina thr-ashed Mauritius’ Kate Foo Kune 21-10, 21-10 in the wo-men’s singles, while former Commonwealth Gam-es champion Kashyap disposed of Thailand’s Tan-ongsak Saenso-mboonsuk 21-14, 21-12 in a one-sided singles match.
Saina will face Amolika Singh Sisodiya and Kash-yap will meet Firman Abdul Kholik of Indo-nesia. Former Singapore Open champion B. Sai Praneeth also crossed the men’s singles opening hurdle, beating Russia’s Sergey Sirant 21-12, 21-10. He will square off against Shesar Hiren Rhustavito of Indonesia.
Subhankar Dey also beat Sweden’s Felix Burestedt 21-15, 21-13 to set up a clash with Lu Guangzu of China.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa, seeded sixth, also notched up a 21-10, 21-10 win over compatriots Krishna Pra-sad Garaga and Rutaparna Panda in the mixed doubles opening round.