Dutch Open: Shuttlers Jayaram, Guru, Thulasi advance

Defending champion Ajay Jayaram and Commonwealth bronze medallist RMV Gurusaidutt advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the Dutch Open Grand Prix after notching up straight-game wins in the second round, in Almere.

Brimming with confidence after his maiden runners-up finish at the Korea Super Series, World No 25 Jayaram thrashed Germany's Fabian Roth 21-14, 21-10 to set up a match against Kasper Lehikoinen of Finland in men's singles. Ninth seed Gurusaidutt also saw off Chinese Taipei's Chun-Wei Chen 21-14, 21-19 in the second round last night. He will next take on Dmytro Zavadsky of Ukraine.

However, it was end of the road for fourth seed B Sai Praneeth after he went down fighting to Denmark's Rasmus Fladberg 21-15, 7-21, 21-12.

In women's singles, P C Thulasi also made a positive start to her campaign as she prevailed over Netherlands's Gayle Mahulette 20-22, 21-15, 21-16. She will play Ireland's Chloe Magee next.