DUBAI (TIP): India‘s top badminton players Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth took a big step on way to reaching the semifinals at the World Super Series Finals by securing second consecutive wins in their respective group on December 18.

Srikanth, who reached a career-high world number six in the rankings today, celebrated his rise on the world stage by beating eighth-ranked Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia 21-18 21-13 at the Hamdan Sports Complex. It was Srikanth’s first win over the Indonesian.

World number four Saina extended her domination over South Korea‘s Sung Ji Hyun with an emphatic 21- 12 21-18 victory. It was Saina’s fifth win against Sung in six career meetings though the Indian had lost last time they played each other in the 2013 Denmark Open.