Indonesia Open: Saina wins her first match; Sindhu,Srikkanth and Kashyap crash out

Saina Nehwal

Jakarta, June 18 (IANS) Saina Nehwal was the only saving grace for the Indian team as other shuttlers lost their opening round matches in the $750,000 Indonesia Open Super Series Premier here Wednesday.

P.V. Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth and Parupalli Kashyap went out of competition at the Istora Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

A three-time winner here, Saina needed only 33 minutes to ease past Thailand's Porntip Buranaprasertsuk 21-15, 21-10 . She now leads the Thai player by 7-1.

The Olympic bronze medallist will take on Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour in the second round.

Sindhu could not capitalize on her start against China's third seed Yihan Wang. The World No.10 Hyderabadi did put up a fight in the first game,before losing out 24-26.

Sindhu fought brilliantly but ran out of steam to lose the second game to the former World Champion 17-21.

In the men's singles , China's Chen Yuekun beat Srikanth 21-12, 17-21, 21-16 in 55 minutes while Japanese fourth seed Kenichi Tago ousted Parupalli Kashyap 19-21, 21-8, 24-22 in an hour and nine minutes.

Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa will take on Indonesians Pia Zebadiah Bernadeth and Rizki Amelia Pradipta in the women's doubles opener later in the day.