Saina eases into second round of Korea Open Superseries

India’s badminton star Saina Nehwal Wednesday eased past Scot Susan Egelstaff in the first round of the women’s singles at the Korea Open Superseries badminton event in Seoul, South Korea.

World No.4 Saina beat 33rd-ranked Egelstaff 21-5, 21-6 in mere 24 minutes. The Indian faces Chinese Taipei’s Shao Chieh Cheng in the second round Thursday.

Jwala Gutta won her matches in the doubles and mixed doubles category.

Jwala and Ashwini Ponnappa defeated the Malaysian pair of Vivian Kah Mun Hoo and Khe Wei Woon 21-19, 21-18 in the opening round of the women’s doubles.

Jwala then teamed up with V. Diju to get the better of another Malaysian combine of Peng Soon Chan and Liu Ying Goh 21-18, 21-18.

Ajay Jayaram conceded his men’s singles match against South Korea’s Wan Ho Shon when he was trailing 0-1 in the first game.