Paris Olympics: Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, Prannoy through to pre-quarterfinals
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Paris: Ace Indian shuttlers P V Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and H S Prannoy entered the pre-quarterfinals of the Olympic Games' singles competition here on Wednesday.
Two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu won 21-5, 21-10 against Kristin Kuuba of Estonia in her second and last Group M match.
Sindhu, who had beaten Maldives' Fathimath Abdul Razzaq 21-9, 21-6 in her first match, topped the group.
The winner of each of the 16 groups qualifies for the round of 16.
The Indian ace has previously won a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Games and a bronze in the Tokyo edition.
Sen progressed to the pre-quarterfinals with a stunning straight-game win over Indonesia's world No. 3 Jonatan Christie in the final Group L match.
The 22-year-old from Almora, a 2021 World Championships bronze medallist, displayed great maturity and tactical acumen to outwit Christie, the reigning All England and Asian champion, 21-18, 21-12 in what turned out to be a lop-sided contest.
Sen had defeated Kevin Cordon, a Tokyo Olympics semifinalist, in the opening Group L match on Sunday which was "deleted" after his Guatemalan opponent pulled out due to a left elbow injury.
Sen, a gold medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, then defeated Julien Carraggi of Belgium.
Sen will face compatriot Prannoy in the pre-quarterfinals. Keralite Prannoy bounced back to down Vietnam's Le Duc Phat 16-21, 21-11, 21-12 in Group K.
The 32-year-old Prannoy, who had recovered from a bout of chikungunya to compete in his maiden Olympics, squandered the opening game but got his act together in time to down the world No. 70 Le in a hard-fought battle.