Badminton: Ajay Jayaram keeps Indian hopes alive at US Open

Ace Indian shuttler Ajay Jayaram defeated experienced compatriot Anand Pawar in straight games to emerge as the lone Indian survivor at the ongoing US Open in El Monte on Friday.

The fourth-seeded claimed a comfortable 21-11, 21-11 win over Pawar to progress through to the semifinals of the men's singles event of the USD 120,000 Grand Prix Gold tournament. Jayaram will next take on Japan's Kanta Tsuneyama for a spot in the summit clash.

Meanwhile, Indian doubles pair failed to advance to the last four stage. Rio-bound Manu Attri and B. Sumeeth Reddy, who recently won the Canada Open, bowed out of the tournament after losing to Japanese duo of Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi 21-18, 7-21, 16-21 in the men's doubles event.

On the other hand, Meghana Jakkampudi and Poorvisha Ram were beaten 15-21, 12-21 by second-seeded duo of Eva Lee and Paula Lynn Obanana in the women's doubles event.