New Delhi: Brishing past a Japanese challenge, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu progressed to the quarterfinals, in women's singles at the India Open Super 750 badminton tournament here on Thursday.

Malayali shuttler Kiran George, the remaining player in the men's fray, delivered a gritty performance to enter the last eight rounds of the tournament.

Sindhu cruised past Japan's world No 46 Manami Suizu with a 21-15, 21-13 win, while Kiran pulled off a stunning recovery, saving six game points to outlast Alex Lanier 22-20, 21-13 in the pre-quarterfinals.

Sindhu will now face Paris Olympics bronze medallist Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, while Kiran will take on left-handed Chinese shuttler Hong Yang Weng in the next round, PTI reported.

Alex Lanier started strong against Kiran and went ahead with a five-point advantage at 6-1. Despite mid-game resistance by the Indian, the Frenchman reached 20-14, needing just one point to seal the game. But  Kiran saved six game points, launching an eight-point burst to seal the opening game as Alex repeatedly missed the lines.

Fate reversed in the second game. Now Kiran was leading 14-11 after a fierce battle. As the Frenchman smashed wide, the Keralite shuttler cruised into the victory at 21-13.

New Delhi: India's Kiran George reacts during the men's singles round of 16 match against France's Alex Lanier at the India Open 2025 badminton tournament, in New Delhi, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan)(PTI01_16_2025_000218B)
India's Kiran George reacts during his match against France's Alex Lanier. Photo: PTI/Gurinder Osan

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