Saina, Sindhu power into second round

Saina Nehwal entered the second round of the Indonesia Open Superseries

Jakarta: Saina Nehwal, bidding to recapture the Indonesia Open crown that eluded her narrowly last year, won her first round match and led a strong Indian showing on the first day of the main draw. Nehwal’s performance was matched by young compatriot PV Sindhu, who won a cracker of a match against Indonesia’s Maria Febe Kusumastuti. Other Indians, including P Kashyap, Ajay Jayaram, and the mixed doubles combo of V Diju/ Jwala Gutta progressed into the second round.

In other matches, third seed Peter Gade was shown the door by resurgent Indonesian Sony Dwi Kuncoro, while second seed Chen Jin retired in the second game against Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen, for the two main upsets of the day.

Saina got off to a great start against Sato. From 6-all, she reeled off several points in a row and was untroubled as she closed out the game.

At 12-5 in her favour in the second game, it looked like an easy win for Saina, but the tricky Japanese left-hander hung in there and slowly turned the match around. She caught up at 13, and then rocketed ahead to level the match.

The third game was a close battle all the way, but Saina managed to keep a small but handy lead. Sato came close at 13-16,but Saina continued to pile on the pressure, and was a comfortable victor in the end.

Kashyap had to fend off a strong challenge from Guatemalan Kevin Cordon, and managed to come through in a 21-19 19-21 21-16 win, while Ajay Jayaram had lesser problems in countering Europe’s biggest prospect Viktor Axelsen, 21-16 21-14. V Diju and Jwala Gutta also progressed into the second round, after a three-setter against Yoo Yeon Seong/ Jang Ye Na of Korea.

Compatriot Guru Sai Dutt, taking on the formidable fifth seed Lee Hyun Il, fought hard and nearly put it across the Korean. Guru was tenacious as he climbed back from 14-18 down in the third game, and saved two match points but could not prevent Hyun Il from converting his third.

Meanwhile, national champion Sourabh Verma too gave a good account of himself against seventh seed Simon Santoso. Sourabh kept apace in the first game, but marginally fell short in the second against the wily Indonesian.