JOIN US Sayali will meet compatriot and defending champion PC Thulasi, seeded seventh, in one of the two semifinals on Saturday at the NSCI courts in Worli. Thulasi quelled the challenge of Gayatri Vartak 21-10, 21-8 in the quarterfinals, while second seed PV Sindhu literally towered over her opponent Mudra Dhainje, winning 21-5, 21-8, in another last-four battle.
A stern test awaits Sindhu in the semis against third seeded Chan Tsz Ka of Hong Kong, who looked in imperious form as she brushed aside sixth-seeded national champion Aditi Mutatkar 21-8, 21-14.
Two Indians, second seed RMV Gurusaidutt and third seed Arvind Bhat, cruised into the last four of the men’s singles along with top seed Alamsyah Yunus of Indonesia and surprise package Shesar Hiren Rhustavito, also of Indonesia.
Yunus will take on Bhat, while Gurusaidutt will lock horns with Shesar in the semis.
Yunus beat sixth seed Saurabh Varma of India 21-16, 21-5 and will take on Bhat in what should be a promising encounter.
The tall and powerful Bhat hardly broke a sweat in ousting young Akshit Mahajan 21-19, 21-13.
Results (quarterfinals, prefix denotes seedings, Indians unless specified):
Men: 1-Alamsyah Yunus (Ina) bt 6-Saurabh Varma 21-16, 21-5; Shesar Hiren Rhustavito (Ina) bt Misbun Ramdan Mohmed (Mas) 14-21, 21-15, 21-19; 3-Arvind Bhat bt Akshit Mahajan 21-19, 21-13; 2- RMV Gurusaidutt bt Aditya Prakash 21-5, 21-7.
Women: 7-P C Thulasi bt Gayatri Vartak 21-10, 21-8; 8-Sayali Gokhale bt 4-Arundhati Pantawane 24-22, 21-17; 3-Chan Tsz Ka (HKG) bt 6-Aditi Mutatkar 21-8, 21-14; 2-P V Sindhu bt Mudra Dhainje 21-5, 21-8.