Malaysia Open: Prannoy storms into quarters after beating Wardoyo

Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], January 12 (ANI): India's ace shuttler HS Prannoy advanced into the men's singles category quarter-finals of the ongoing Malaysia Open 2023 with a victory over Indonesia's Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
Eighth-ranked HS Prannoy defeated the world No. 19 opponent Wardoyo 21-9, 15-21, 21-16 in the season's first BWF World Tour event.
From the start, HS Prannoy asserted his dominance, while Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo struggled to adjust to the drift. After winning the first game, the Indian badminton player was unable to handle Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo's inside-out shots and lost the second.
Both players attempted to outwit each other with crosscourt smashes in the decider. Prannoy took a five-point lead before the end of the third game and went on to win the match in 64 minutes.
Earlier in the day, CWG bronze medalists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand were eliminated from the Malaysia Open after losing in the women's doubles round of 16 to Bulgaria's Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva.
The Indian pair, 16th in the BWF rankings in women's doubles, lost the match 13-21, 21-15, 17-21 to the world No. 14 duo in 69 minutes clash.
Later in the day, world No. 5 Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy will face the world No. 11 Indonesian pair of Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and Bagas Maulana in the round of 16.
India's Olympic medallists PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal made early exits at Malaysia Open, which will conclude on January 15. (ANI)