Leading Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and K. Srikanth won their first round matches in contrasting style at the Star Australian Open Super Series here on Wednesday.
While world No. 1 Saina beat 67th-ranked Cheah Lyddia Yi Yu of Malaysia, world No. 4 Srikanth pipped Hans-Kristian Vittinghus of Denmark in a thrilling decider.
Defending champion Saina breezed past Cheah 21-12, 21-10 to enter the last 16.
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Srikanth recovered well to beat Vittinghus 14-21, 21-8, 22-20 in a match that lasted 53 minutes. He plays China’s Tian Houwei on Thursday.
The women’s doubles pair of G. Jwala and Ashwini Ponnappa, too, made a winning start.
Jwala and Ashwini beat the Dutch pair of Samantha Barning and Iris Tabeling 21-13, 21-13.
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Among the Indians who made a first-round exit were P.V. Sindhu, P. Kashyap and R.M.V. Gurusaidutt. Eighth seed Wang Yihan put it across world No. 14 Sindhu 18-21, 21-15, 25-23.
Compatriot Kashyap went down to sixth seed Wang Zhengming 24-26, 21-18, 22-20.
Gurusaidutt raised eyebrows by taking the first game off Long before the Chinese completed a 15-21, 21-9, 21-17 victory.
Earlier, Ashwini lost in the mixed doubles alongside Pranaav Jerry Chopra.
Indian results (first round): Men’s singles: K. Srikanth bt Hans-Kristian Vittinghus (Den) 14-21, 21-8, 22-20; Wang Zhengming (Chn) bt P. Kashyap 24-26, 21-18, 22-20; Chen Long bt R.M.V. Gurusaidutt 15-21, 21-9, 21-17.
Doubles: Yun Cai & Jun Kang (Chn) bt Pranaav Jerry Chopra & Akshay Dewalkar 21-15, 21-15.
Women’s singles: Saina Nehwal bt Cheah Lyddia Yi Yu (Mas) 21-12, 21-10; Yihan Wang (Chn) bt P.V. Sindhu 18-21, 21-15, 25-23; Doubles: G. Jwala & Ashwini Ponnappa bt Samantha Barning & Iris Tabeling (Ned) 21-13, 21-13.
Mixed doubles: Choi Solgyu & Eom Hye Won (Kor) bt Pranaav and Ashwini 21-19, 21-14.