Top seed Tanvi Sharma continued her strong run at the Vietnam Open on Thursday, defeating Thailand’s Passa-Orn Phannachet in straight games to book a place in the women’s singles quarterfinals.
The World No. 27 overcame a stern challenge in the opening game before completing a 26-24, 21-12 victory in 36 minutes. She will next face fellow Indian Malvika Bansod, guaranteeing India a place in the semifinals.
Malvika secured her quarterfinal spot with a 21-19, 21-14 victory over Thailand’s Tidapron Kleebyeesun.
Tanvi had to work hard early against Phannachet, with neither player managing to take firm control of the first game. After a tight battle lasting 20 minutes, the Indian held her nerve at the crucial stage to edge it 26-24.
The second game was far more comfortable. Tanvi raced into a 5-0 advantage and extended her lead to 11-4 by the interval. She remained in command after the break and wrapped up the game 21-12.
Tanvi had earlier defeated Canada’s Rachel Chan 21-16, 21-17 in the opening round.
She is now chasing her second title of the season after winning the Taipei Open in late July. Tanvi followed that success by reaching the Korea Masters quarterfinals, while her China Masters Super 750 campaign in Shenzhen earlier this month ended in the round of 16 against Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki. She lost that contest 17-21, 21-18, 16-21.
India also enjoyed success in the men’s singles, where third seed HS Prannoy survived a three-game contest against Chinese Taipei’s Zhe Ying Wu.
Prannoy advanced with a 21-15, 13-21, 21-14 victory after 56 minutes. He turned a 5-5 score in the opening game into a 12-5 advantage by winning seven consecutive points before taking the game.
Wu responded strongly to claim the second and force a decider. Prannoy, however, maintained a narrow three-to-four-point cushion for much of the final game before closing out the match.
He will face another Indian, Sanskar Saraswat, in the quarterfinals. Sanskar eliminated sixth seed Kiran George 21-12, 10-21, 21-18.
Isharani Baruah and Rakshitha Santosh Ramraj were among the other Indian singles players to register victories on Thursday.
