Shuttlers Bhat, Anand enter Bitburger Open semifinals

New Delhi, Oct 3 (IANS) Arvind Bhat and Chetan Anand notched up contrasting victories to sail into the semifinals of Bitburger Open in Saarbruecken, Germany, Friday.

Seventh-seeded Bhat was given a tough fight by compatriot Parupalli Kashyap before prevailing 21-15, 17-21, 21-15. Bhat set up a clash with second seed Bjorn Joppien of Germany. Joppien got the better of third seed Indonesian Andre Kurniawan Tedjono 17-21, 21-9, 21-18.

Fourth-seeded Anand had no such problems as he eased past Lithuania's Kestutis Navickas 21-12, 21-16. He will next take on the winner of German Marc Zwiebler and Danish Peter Mikkelsen.

In mixed doubles, V. Diju and Jwala Gutta also reached the last four beating fifth seed Rasmus Bonde and Helle Nielsen 21-14, 21-13. They will clash with sixth seed Wijaya Rendra and Meilana Jauhari of Denmark for a place in the final.