Korea Open: Saina, Sindu, Kashyap through to second round

India were off to a good start at the first tournament of the year, the Korea Open Superseries Premier, with Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu and P Kashyap winning their first round matches today.

Saina was pushed to three games by upcoming Thai youngster Sapsiree Taerattanachai, but the Indian pulled off a 17-21 21-9 21-19 victory in a match that went nearly an hour. Kashyap, who won the Syed Modi International GP Gold tournament in December, continued with his winning form, as he brushed aside England’s Rajiv Ouseph 21-19 21-16 in just 37 minutes. PV Sindhu took revenge for her loss in the Syed Modi GPG final to Lindaweni Fanetri, as she dismissed the Indonesian in straight games in her first round match, 22-20 21-16.

Saina lost the first game from 15-all, as Sapsiree won four points in a row, but the Indian third seed bounced back with a comprehensive display in the second game. The third was closer, with Sapiree remaining within a couple of points of the Indian until midway. Saina looked to have sealed it with a 20-13 lead, but Sapsiree fought back valiantly, taking the next six points in a row to come within a point of the India. Saina however shut her out to convert the seventh match point. She has a relatively easy second round, where she will play either Petya Nedelcheva (Bulgaria) or Fu Mingtian (Singapore).

Kashyap, though, has a difficult second round ahead, as he takes on seventh seed Hu Yun (Hong Kong).

Sindhu had lost a close match to Fanetri last fortnight at Lucknow, falling 21-18 in the third game, but she was not to be denied today. The first game was neck-and-neck, and although Fanetri saved one game point, Sindhu closed it out 22-20. The second game was all Sindhu’s, as she pulled ahead from 8-all to establish big leads and cruise into the second round, where she will play Porntip Buranaprasertsuk, who was a beneficiary of the retirement of top seed Li Xuerui.