Sport - Badminton

Saina loses, Bhat survives

Kuching : Saina Nehwal's campaign was cut short in the very first round while Arvind Bhat remained the lone survivor as it turned out to be a day of disaster for the Indian shuttlers in the Malaysian Open badminton tournament here.

Saina, winner of the Philippines Open, lost to her her Dutch rival Jie Yao 9-21, 21-19, 21-11. Saina, partnering Ruth Misha, also lost her first round match in women's doubles against the Malaysian duo of Chiou Hwee Haw and Anita Raj 21-13, 21-19.

In the men's singles, Arvind Bhat quelled a late challenge from Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark 21-16, 23-21 to move into the last 16 stage, where he meets Germany's Roman Spitko.

National champion Anup Sridhar lost to Malaysia's Chong Wei Lee 21-12, 17-21, 21-13. Chetan Anand, on the other hand, proved no match for Briton Andrew Smith who looked at ease during his 21-14, 21-10 win.

It was the same story with Rohan Castelino who was beaten 21-15, 21-12 by Yan Kit Chan of Hong Kong.

Apart from Bhat's win, the only other saving grace was Thomas Sanave and Rupesh Kumar's 21-12, 21-19 win against the German pair of Michael Fuchs and Roman Spitko in the first round of the men's doubles.

The results:

Women: Saina Nehwal lost to Jie Yao 9-21, 21-19, 21-11. Doubles: Saina & Ruth Misha lost to Chiou Hwee Haw & Anita Raj 21-13, 21-19; Aditi Mutatkar & Sayali Gokhale lost to Sabrina Sook Ching Chong & Yin Loo Lim13-21, 10-21.

Men: Arvind Bhat bt Kenneth Jonassen 21-16, 23-21; Anup Sridhar lost to Chong Wei Lee 21-12, 17-21, 21-13; Chetan Anand lost to Andrew Smith 21-14, 21-10; Rohan Castelino lost to Yan Kit Chan 21-15, 21-12.

Doubles: Thomas Sanave & Rupesh Kumar's bt Michael Fuchs & Roman Spitko 21-12, 21-19. — UNI

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu