Saina Nehwal, K Srikanth reach finals of Syed Modi International Badminton tournament

LUCKNOW: Defending champion Saina Nehwal is just one step away from retaining her women's singles title, while world No. 5 Indian K Srikanth too reached the finals of the $120,000 Syed Modi International Badminton tournament, here today.

Olympic bronze medallist Saina didn't have to break much sweat as she disposed off fourth seed Nichaon Jindapon of Thailand 21-10 21-16 at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium.

The 24-year-old will take on the winner of the match between two-time World Championship bronze medallist P V Sindhu and reigning World Champion Carolina Marin of Spain.

World No 5 Srikanth also continued his rampaging form and entered the finals for the second successive time with a hard- fought victory over compatriot H S Prannoy, who had clinched the Indonesia Masters last year.

The top seed Indian dropped the opening game before beating Prannoy 12-21 21-12 21-14 in a match that lasted for an hour and four minutes in the men's singles competition.

In doubles, it was curtains for fifth seeds Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy as they were defeated by fourth seeds Vladimir Ivanov and Ivan Sozonov of Russia 12-21 18-21.