Jakarta: Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal who won the 2009, 2010, 2012 Indonesia Open, put on a fantastic performance against Thailand’s No. 8 seed Ratchanok Intanon to enter the second round of the Indonesia Open Superseries Premier on Tuesday.
Nehwal who has slipped out of the World top-10 for the first time in seven years, bounced back from dropping a set to beat Intanon 17-21, 21-18, 21-12 in 57 minutes. The unseeded Indian will play another Thai player Nitchaon Jindapol in the second round.
Another Indian women’s singles shuttler, World No. 3 P.V Sindhu also recorded a dominant victory on Tuesday by outlasting Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong in straight sets with 21-12, 21-19 in 33 minutes. The 21-year-old Sindhu will next take on the United States’ Beiwen Zhang in the second round.
China’s 19-year-old Chen Xiaoxin pulled off arguably the biggest upset of the women’s bracket Tuesday, saving two match points to earn a 21-12, 10-21, 22-20 win over Olympic champion and No. 2 seed Carolina Marin of Spain in 64 minutes. The Chinese player will meet Soniia Cheah of Malaysia next.
In mixed doubles, 3 Malaysian pairs were able to cruise into the second round. Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing will meet Fachryza Abimanyu/Bunga Fitriani Romadhini of Indonesia next, while Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Jemie Lai are set to play Lu Ching Yao/Chiang Kai Hsin of Taiwan, and Chan Peng Soon/Yen Wei Peck will clash with No. 2 seeds Lu Kai/Huang Yaqiong in the second round.
