Date:31/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/31/stories/2006083106732100.htm

Sport - Badminton

Kashyap pulls off a major upset

Saina loses to World No. 1 Ning Zhang of China

Chetan Anand, Anand Pawar, Ajay Jayaram too fail to get past the second round

New Delhi: Twenty-year-old P. Kashyap pulled off a major upset, drubbing World No. 19 Przemyslaw Wacha of Poland 17-21, 22-20, 21-13 to storm into the men's singles pre-quarterfinals at the Hong Kong Open badminton championships on Wednesday.

The Hyderabad boy thus set up a clash with veteran Taufiq Hidayat of Indonesia.

However, India's euphoria was dampened a bit by Saina Nehwal's defeat to World No. 1 Ning Zhang of China.

Saina crashes out

Saina, who defeated the higher-ranked Sarotja Chansrisukot of Thailand on Tuesday, gave a good fight to Zhang, but the Chinese top seed handled the crucial points well to pocket the match 21-11, 21-16.

Anand Pawar came up with a fighting performance against Chong Wei Lee of Malaysia, but gave up 22-20, 6-21, 11-21.

Chetan Anand, World No. 22, disappointed again, losing to Hwan Sung Park of Korea 21-12, 21-9.

Jayaram, who had to qualify for the main draw and pulled off a stunning upset against World No.12 Eric Pang of the Netherlands on Tuesday, lost to World No. 25 Kay Bin Yeoh of Malaysia 16-21, 16-21.

In another women's singles first round match on Tuesday, qualifier Aditi Mutatkar lost to second seed Xie Xingfang 21-16, 21-9. — PTI