Badminton World Championship: Rupesh, Sanave advance

MADRID: The Indian pair of Rupesh Kumar and Thomas Sanave advanced to the second round of men's doubles in Badminton World Championship after a straight game win over the Russian duo of Vladimir Malkov and Konstantin Khlestov.

The number one Indian doubles combine registered a convincing 21-10, 21-12 win in 27 minutes to quell the Russian challenge.

Rupesh and Sanave will now take on Albertus Susanto Njoto and Yohan Hadikusumo Wiratama of Hong Kong in the next round.

In other matches featuring Indians, the women's pair of B R Meenakshi and Trupti Murgunde will face Amelie Felx and Florence Lavoie of Canada later tonight while world number 25 Chetan Anand will meet Hyun Ii Lee of Korea in the first round of singles draw.

Saina Nehwal will also start her campaign on Monday against world number 9 Yanjiao Jiang of China.