Malaysia Open: Saina, Sindhu storm into quarters

Saina, who led the head-to-head record 8-4 before the match, made it 9-4 in a one-sided game, which lasted just 32 minutes. The 26-year old Indian led from the start and finished the first game 21-10 without breaking a sweat. The second game proved to be a much-closeraffairthough, after the Korean put in a spirited effort to match the Indian point for point at least initially in the encounter. Saina, finally took the game 21-16 and made her way to the quarters to face Porntip Buranaprasertsuk of Thailand.

P V Sindhu also entered the quarters after a straight-games victory over seventh seed Sung Ji Hyun. Sindhu, who had a 4-3 head-to-head record going into the match, found it tough initially against the World No.7 in a tight first game. Both players matched each other shot for shot and point for point, but Sindhu jumped ahead of the Korean by winning two points when the game was at 18-18. Although the World No.10 squandered two game points to allow Sung Ji Hyun to level things once again, two more points in a row helped the Indian take the first game 22-20.