Syed Modi International: Saina and Srikanth reach finals

Lucknow, Jan 24: Defending champion Saina Nehwal is just one step away from retaining her women's singles title, while world No. 5 Indian Kidambi Srikanth too reached the finals of the USD 120,000 Syed Modi International Badminton tournament, here today.

Olympic bronze medallist Saina didn't have to break much sweat as she disposed off fourth seed Nichaon Jindapon of Thailand 21-10, 21-16 at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium.

The 24-year-old will take on the winner of the match between two-time World Championship bronze medallist PV Sindhu and reigning World Champion Carolina Marin of Spain.

World No 5 Srikanth also continued his rampaging form and entered the finals for the second successive time with a hard- fought victory over compatriot HS Prannoy, who had clinched the Indonesia Masters last year.

The top seed Indian dropped the opening game before beating Prannoy 12-21, 21-12, 21-14 in a match that lasted for an hour and four minutes in the men's singles competition.

In doubles, it was curtains for fifth seeds Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy as they were defeated by fourth seeds Vladimir Ivanov and Ivan Sozonov of Russia 12-21, 18-21.

PTI