Thaindian News

Shanghai, Nov 23 (IANS) Saina Nehwal’s poor run continued as she crashed out of the first round of China Open badminton, losing 21-15, 22-24, 15-21 to Youn Joo Bae of South Korea.

Saina, seeded fourth, lost the encounter in almost an hour.

Saina was in control of the first game right from the start and opened up a 6-2 lead. She tightly held on to the lead to win the first game.

The Korean bounced back in the second game, which was closely fought and managed to take the match to the decider.

Saina had an early advantage in the decider and maintained a steady lead before the Korean came back in the match. The Indian was leading 15-12, but the Korean then won nine straight points to seal victory.

Ajay Jayaram and Parupalli Kashyap also bowed out of the men’s singles first round.
Kashyap went down to Kenichi Tago of Japan 17-21, 16-21, while Jayaram, who was impressive at the Hong Kong Open and reached the quarters, lost 18-21, 19-21 to Wing Ki Wong of Hong Kong.

The men’s doubles pair of Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas also exited losing their first round match to fifth-seeded Malaysian Kien Keat Koo and Boon Heong Tan 12-21, 14-21.

Jwala Gutta, however advanced both in women’s doubles and mixed doubles second round.

Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa, Commonwealth Games champion, defeated Australian Leanne Choo and Renuga Veeran 21-15, 21-16.

Gutta, pairing with V.Diju in mixed doubles, went past Muhammad Rijal and Debby Susanto of Indoensia 21-17, 21-16.