Sport - Badminton

Saina advances

Kuala Lumpur: India’s Saina Nehwal started her season on a winning note, dispatching little-known German Nicole Grether in straight games to enter the second round of the Malaysian Super Series badminton tournament here on Wednesday.

The World No. 10 Saina took just 26 minutes to send Nicole packing 21-15, 21-8 in the first round to set up a clash with Hsiao Huan Chen of Chinese Taipei, who defeated compatriot Shih Ying Chen 21-18, 21-15, in the second round on Thursday.

Saina made a cautious start and gradually took a 7-3 lead before taking full control to wrap up the first game 21-15. The Indian was even more dominant in the second game and wrapped up the match in just 26 minutes.

Indians had a good day in the men’s singles as well with Anup Sridhar and Chetan Anand advancing after notching up easy wins.

While Anand beat Canadian Bobby Milroy 21-10, 21-12, Sridhar got the better of Malaysia’s Muhammad Roslin Hashim 21-17, 21-14.

However, Anand Pawar’s campaign ended after he went down to Taipei’s Hsuan Yi Hsueh 27-25, 16-21, 19-21.

Meanwhile, the mixed doubles pair of V. Diju and Jwala Gutta defeated Taipei’s Chieh Min Fang and Wen Hsing Cheng 21-17, 21-15 in their opener, but there was disappointment in men’s doubles as Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas lost 9-21, 17-21 to the Polish duo of Michal Logosz and Robert Mateusiak. — PTI

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