Defending champion PV Sindhu stormed into the women’s singles quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships with a straight-game win over Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand on Thursday.

The world number 7 Indian defeated her Thai opponent, ranked three places below her in straight sets 21-14 21-18 in the pre-quarterfinal match that lasted 48 minutes.

The double Olympic medallist Sindhu faces top seed and world number one Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei, who beat Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland 21-10 19-21 21-11, in the quarterfinals.

Sindhu beat at the same stage of the last World Championships in the match of the tournament. Tai had her revenge in the semifinals of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics earlier this year, and will be looking to break her quarterfinals jinx at the Worlds.

In the post-match interview, Sindhu said-

“Very important to get back because I lost to her (Chochuwong) the last two times. I had to be focused from the first point. Tomorrow it’s against Tai. We’re playing after the Olympics, I just want to do my best because it’s going to be tough. People keep telling me I do well at World Championships and Olympics so I take it as a positive thing. I just don’t know why that happens, but that’s good.”

“Tai is a tricky player and has very good skills so it’s not going to be easy. At times you won’t be able to anticipate her shots but you have to make sure you’re always in the match, making sure you take all the shots, and you have to be patient.

“The key is to pick all her shuttles, to keep it in the court. If I get a lead I should maintain it and finish it off.”