Jakarta: World number one Saina Nehwal disposed off Thai Nichaon Jindapon’s challenge in straight games but PV Sindhu crashed out of the Indonesian Open Super Series badminton tournament after a close first-round defeat, here on Wednesday.
In the men’s singles, both Indians in the fray — Parupalli Kashyap and Kidambi Srikanth — advanced to the second round by registering contrasting victories against their respective opponents.
Second seeded Saina got the better of her Thai opponent 21-16 21-18 in 35 minutes but Sindhu’s defeat prevented an all-India second round clash.
Sindhu lost a gruelling first round contest 21-16 15-21 14-21 in 49 minutes to Chinese Taipei’s Ya Ching Hsu, who will now face London Olympics bronze medallist, Saina for a place in the women’s singles quarterfinals.
World No. 12 Kashyap overcame Thailand’s Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk 21-17 21-7 in just 29 minutes, while Srikanth had a tough outing against Danish Hans-Kristian Vittinghus, ranked 15th in the world.
World no. 4 Srikanth, however, managed to prevail over Vittinghus 11-21 21-14 24-22 in a battle that lasted 50 minutes.
Kashyap next take on fifth seed Korean Wan Ho Son and Srikanth will clash with the winner of another first round match between Brice Leverdez and Ginting Anthony.
Meanwhile, star Indian women’s doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa prevailed over Taipei’s team of Ya Ching Hsu and Yu Po Pai 21-17 19-21 21-11 in 42 minutes to make it to the second round, where they will face seventh seeded local favourites Yu Yang and Zhong Qianxin.
In men’s doubles, Indian duo of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar got the better of Canadian pair of Adrian Liu and Derrick Ng 21-17 22-20 in 35 minutes to enter the second round.
They will now take on the fifth seeded Chinese pair of Chai Biao and Hong Wei.
But the combo of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy went down to fourth seeded Chinese Taipei duo of Lee Sheng Mu and Tsai Chia Hsin 13-21 11-21 in just 26 minutes.
