China Open | PV Sindhu advances to pre-quarter finals; Saina Nehwal crashes out

China Open | PV Sindhu advances to pre-quarter finals; Saina Nehwal crashes out

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India’s Day 1 China Open campaign produced a mixed result as PV Sindhu beat World No. 39 Saena Kawakami 21-15, 21-13 while Saina Nehwal lost to Korea's Sung Ji Hyun. On the other hand, in men's doubles Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy beat Liao Min Chun and Su Ching Heng to enter the second round.

The match between Sindhu and Kawakami started on a very competitive note before the Indian broke off to grab a 13-7 lead at one stage. After that, Sindhu kept dominating the rallies and didn’t have to break a sweat in order to pocket the opening game 21-15. 

Sindhu had an immediate upper hand in the second game as well where she secured a 6-0 lead, but the Japanese managed to make it 8-10 before the Hyderabadi made it 11-9 at the break. The break hardly provided the Japanese any support to make a comeback as Sindhu jumped to a 15-11 lead before grabbing eight match points at 20-12 and won the game to enter the round of 16 comfortably.

However, Sindhu’s win was the only satisfaction for the single’s contingent as Saina, who was the first Indian to win the China Open title in 2014, lost 22-20, 8-21, 14-21 to Korea's Sung Ji Hyun in a 48-minute encounter. 

But, men’s doubles pair didn’t disappoint as Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy defeated Chinese Taipei's Liao Min Chun and Su Ching Heng 13-21, 21-13, 21-12 in 39 minutes to enter the second round of the event. 

In the mixed doubles encounter, the pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N. Sikki Reddy got the better of the German pair of Marvin Emil Seidel and Linda Efler by a margin of 21-19, 21-17 to salvage the day for India.

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