Top-seeded Sameer Verma disposed of teammate Kevin Arokia Walter 21-14, 21-9 to enter the men’s singles quarterfinals even as Pratul Joshi shocked fifth-seeded Sourabh Verma 14-21, 21-13, 21-19 in the Hyderabad Open badminton championship at Gachibowli Indoor Stadium here on Thursday.
It was a near-flawless display from Sameer as he revelled with his delectable backhanders which had the opponent guessing repeatedly.
And, the few times Walter tried to put up a fight, the challenge was quelled by the former’s efficacy at the net.
In another match, Pratul was equal to the task and the way he came back from the first game deficit to outsmart the more experienced opponent was a treat to watch — especially the placement of his big smashes and the net play when it mattered most.
In the women’s singles, Jia Min Yeo of Singapore knocked out the top-seeded Indonesian Ayustine Dinar Dyah 21-15, 21-15, while fifth-seeded K. Sri Krishna Priya demonstrated her growing stature with a 21-15, 21-18 win over Aimsaard Nuntakarn of Thailand.
Important results (pre-quarterfinals): Men: Sameer Verma bt Kevin Arokia Walter 21-14, 21-9; R.M.V. Guru Sai Dutt bt Daniel S. Farid 21-14, 21-13; Pratul Joshi bt Sourabh Verma 14-21, 21-13, 21-19; Abdul Kholik Farman (Ina) bt Chirag Sen 21-16, 21-18; Lim Chi Wing (Mas) w/o. Giap Chin Goh (Mas); Vicky Angga Saputra (Ina) bt Kaushal Dharmamer 21-16, 21-18.
Doubles: R. Satwiksairaj & Chirag Shetty bt Maulana Bagas & Frengky Wijaya Putra (Ina) 21-13, 21-17.
Women: Jia Min Yeo (Sgp) bt Ayustine Dinar Dyah (Ina) 21-15, 21-15; An Se Young (Kor) bt Tam Brittney (Can) 21-5, 21-12; K. Sri Krishna Priya bt Aimsaard Nuntakarn (Thai) 21-15, 21-18; Iris Wang (USA) bt Aimsaard Benyapa (Thai) 21-13, 21-7; Ga Eun Kim (Kor) bt Ruselli Hartawan (Ina) 21-12, 21-14; Joy Xuan Deng (Hkg) bt Choirunnisa Choirunissa (Ina) 19-21, 21-11, 21-13; Rasika Raje bt Ying Mei Cheung (Hkg) 21-19, 21-16; Yu Jin Sim (Kor) bt Aakarshi Kashyap 21-9, 21-8.
Mixed doubles: Pranav J. Chopra & N. Sikki Reddy bt Choi Shing Yeung & Yan Ka Fan (Hkg) 21-10, 22-20; Ming Nok Yeung & Ng Tsz Yau (Hkg) bt Shivam Sharma & Poorvisha Ram 21-13, 21-17; S. Sunjith Jr & K.P. Sruthi bt B. Sumeeth Reddy & Arathi Sara Sunil 11-21, 21-15, 21-11.
