Saina, Sindhu toppled in Malaysia Open 1st Round

Kuching (Malaysia) April 5 (IANS) Indian star shuttlers P.V. Sindhu and Saina Nehwal suffered setbacks in the opening round of the Malaysia Open Superseries Premier while Ajay Jayaram moved into the men s singles second round here on Wednesday.

Sixth seed and 2016 Olympic silver medallist Sindhu was toppled by world No.13 Chen Yufei of China 21-18 19-21 17-21 in an hour and eight minutes.

Sindhu s veteran compatriot Saina fell to in-form Japanese world No.4 Akane Yamaguchi who won 19-21 21-13 21-15 in 56 minutes.

The men s doubles pair of Manu Attri and B. Sumeeth Reddy also crashed out of the competition. The Indian combine lost to Chinese Taipei s Liao Kuan Hao and Lu Chia Pin 21-18 18-21 17-21.

World No.19 Jayaram however crossed the first-round barrier brushing aside Chinese Qiao Bin 21-11 21-8 in 31 minutes.

Later in the day B. Sai Praneeth and the mixed doubles pair of Sumeeth and N. Sikki Reddy will be in action.

--IANS
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