PV Sindhu and Parupalli Kashyap advanced to the second round of the Malaysian Open Badminton Series. But Saina Nehwal and P Sumeet Reddy-Ashwini Ponnappa pair failed and walked out.
Former world champion Sindhu produced an impressive 21-13, 21-17 win over Thailand’s world number 10 Pornpawi Soshuang to advance to the second round, but London Olympics bronze medalist Saina lost 11-11 to world number 33 American Iris Wang. 21, 17-21 and lost the fight.
Former Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap also made a positive return from injury as he beat Korea’s Hyo Kwang Hee 21-12 21-17 to advance to the second round of the men’s singles.
In the next round, Sindhu, seeded seventh, will face Thailand’s 21-year-old Pitayaborn Chaiwan, the world junior number one, who was part of the bronze medal-winning team at the Uber Cup in Bangkok.
Kashyap, ranked 39th in the world, will face Thailand’s Kunloud Widitshar, who won the German Open Super 300 last March.
India’s top players P Sumeeth Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa suffered a 15-21 21-19 17-21 defeat to Netherlands’ Robin Tabling and Selina Beek at the Commonwealth Games.
