Bangkok, Jan 13 (TIWN) Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal and Commonwealth Games gold medal winner Kidambi Srikanth cruised into the second round of the Thailand Open Super 1000 badminton tournament on Wednesday.

Saina registered a 21-15, 21-15 win over Malaysia’s Kisona Selvaduray while Srikanth beat compatriot Sourabh Verma 21-12, 21-11.  In a match that lasted 36 minutes, Saina was dominant throughout and will now face Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan.  The match was a level contest in the early exchanges but after 4-4, Saina pulled away.

Her opponent saved a couple of game points but Saina finished the first game off in 17 minutes. She then raced to a 11-5 lead in the second game and, eventually, saw it through to the end.  Srikanth will now face either compatriot H.S. Prannoy or Malaysian Lee Zii Jia, who play their first round fixtures later on Wednesday.