Saina Nehwal made a disappointing return from injury as she suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Japanese Sayaka Sato in the second round of the Korean Super Series in Seoul.
The world number four Indian lost 21-17, 19-21, 11-21 to Sayaka in 53 minutes in the women’s singles.
P Kashyap also became a second round casualty after losing 16-21, 13-21 to third-seed Peter Hoeg Gade of Denmark in 38 minutes in men’s singles.
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Jwala Gutta and V Diju also tasted defeat at the hands of sixth-seeded Chinese pair of Tao Jiaming and Qing Tian, losing 16-21, 13-21 in the mixed doubles category.
Saina relied on her powerful smashes but Sayato played better at the nets to run away with the match.
The 20-year-old Indian had her nose ahead after the first game, which she won 21-17 but Sayato bounced back after wresting the second game at 21-19 and then kept the pressure on Saina, whose game crumbled.
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