India’s star badminton player P. V. Sindhu has reached the Malaysian Open’s second round, marking her 450th career win. Additionally, Ashmita Chaliha has advanced to the final 16.
Two-time Olympic medalist P. V. Sindhu defeated Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour in straight games to progress to the second round. Sindhu, who recently returned from a break, faced a tough challenge from Gilmour but emerged victorious with scores of 21-17, 21-16. Ranked 15th in the world, Sindhu had not participated in the Uber Cup and the Thailand Open. This victory marks her 450th win in women’s singles.
Since her comeback from a knee injury last year, Sindhu, a world champion, has faced several close matches. She now aims to strengthen her preparations for the Paris Olympics by performing well in this tournament. Sindhu, seeded fifth, last won a title at the 2022 Singapore Open and will next face Korea’s Sim Yoo Jin.
In other matches, Ashmita Chaliha advanced to the last 16 in singles, and the husband-wife duo N Sikki Reddy and B Sumeeth Reddy made it to the last 16 in mixed doubles. Ashmita defeated Taiwanese qualifier Lin Hsieh Yun with a score of 21-17, 21-16. However, Unnati Huda lost to China’s Gao Feng Ji with scores of 13-21, and 18-21. In men’s doubles, Sai Prateek and Krishna Prasad defeated Taiwan’s Ming Che Lu and Tang Kai Wei 23-21, 21-11.
In mixed doubles, world number 53 B Sumeeth Reddy and N Sikki Reddy reached the second round after defeating Hong Kong qualifiers Louis Chun Wai and Fu Chi Yan 21-15, 12-21, 21-17.
