Sridhar fails to get past quarter-finals in Singapore Open

Singapore, June 9 (UNI) National champion Anup Sridhar's fine run in the tournament came to an end with a straight set lost to second seed Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark in the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open Badminton Championship here.

The 43rd ranked Indian, who upset Andrew Smith of England en-route to the last eight, was no match for his formidable Danish opponent who won the tournament in 2004, and went down 15-21, 15-21 in 35 minutes.

With Sridhar's lost, the Indian challenge in the tournament came to an end.

Earlier, Saina Nehwal could not replicate her Philippines Open form and went down to seventh seeded Bulgarian Petya Nedeltcheva in the second round of the women's singles event.

Pitted against the seventh seed, it was never going to be easy for Saina and the Hyderabadi teenager found going tough against Nedeltcheva's compact game and went down 11-21, 16-21.

Winner of last month's Philippines Open, Saina tried everything in her repertoire but her Bulgarian opponent staved off a late challenge and carved out a straight game win in about half an hour.

In the third round of men's singles, world number 20 Chetan Anand fought a fierce battle with Saman Ismail for about 50 minutes but it was the Malaysian shuttler who had the last laugh following a 21-18, 11-21, 21-15 win that earned him a quaterfinal berth.

The Indian shuttlers will now take part in the four-star 120,000 dollar Malaysian Open from June 13 to 18.

UNI XC PDS DH KN1650