Wuhan: India’s P.V. Sindhu had a strong start, but compatriot Saina Nehwal suffered an early exit in the first round of 2017 Badminton Asia Championships on Wednesday.
Rio Olympic silver medalist and fourth seed P.V. Sindhu needed only 31 minutes to defeat Dinar Dyah Ayustine of Indonesia 21-8, 21-18 in a one-sided encounter, while London Olympic Games bronze medalist Saina Nehwal was struggling and went down fighting against Japan’s Sayaka Sato 19-21, 21-16, 21-18 in the women’s singles after slogging for 68 minutes.
Sindhu will play Aya Ohori of Japan who won the China Masters title last Sunday in the second round.
For the Malaysian camp, 2015 world junior champion Goh Jin Wei was also knocked out in the first round by Japan’s second seed Akane Yamaguchi, losing 17-21, 18-21.
In women’s doubles, Vivian Hoo Kah Mun/Woon Khe Wei brought a little bit of good news to the Malaysian team as the unseeded shocked No. 7 seeds Puttita Supajirakul/Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand 3-21, 21-18, 21-19 in the opener. Hoo/Woon will play Huang Yaqiong/Tang Jinhua of China next.
