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Three Indian shuttlers in last 16

National champions Pulela Gopichand, Aparna Popat and promising youngster Nikhil Kanetkar entered the pre-quarter-finals in the US $50,000 German Open badminton championship in Duisburg.

According to the Badminton Association of India, Gopichand beat Vondre Jan of Czech Republic in straight games 15-4, 15-1, but struggled to overcome Neils Christian Kaldau of Denmark 15-8, 9-15, 15-4. He meets Ji Xinpeng of China in the pre-quarters.

Aparna had an easy first round, whipping Joanna of Poland 11-0, 11-0. She now meets Wan Tin Ling of Hong Kong.

Kanetkar scored an emphatic 15-8, 15-3 win over Denmark's Martin Delfs, son of former World champion Flemming Delfs. He then went on to beat Conrad Hueckstaedt of Germany 15-8, 15-8 to make the last 16. He will play second seed Thomas Johannson of Sweden in the next round.

The tournament, which is a two star world prize event, is one of the qualifying tournament for the Sydney Olympics badminton event.

Abhinn Shyam Gupta defeated Fumihiko Machida of Japan in the first round before losing to Jason Wong of Malaysia in a well-contested match at 10-15, 12-15.

Sachin Ratti lost to James Chua of Malaysia 12-15, 10-15 in the first round, while Neelima Chaudhary made her exit after putting up a spirited challenge against Ukraine No. 1 Elena Napzdran. After winning the first game, she lost the next two to go down 11-5, 4-11, 5-11.

B R Meenakshi had lost in the qualifying rounds itself to China's Chnuyu Tang 2-11, 8-11.

UNI