Nehwal, Sindhu, Srikanth, Atri/Reddy advance on a mixed day for India at Denmark Open

10/14/2015

World number one Saina Nehwal moved into the women’s singles second round, while Parupalli Kashyap lost to twice Olympic silver medallist Lee Chong Wei in the men’s singles first round in what was a day of mixed fortunes for Indians at the Denmark Open Superseries in Odense.

World number five Kidambi Srikanth brushed aside Ajay Jayaram in an all-Indian clash after two-time World Championship bronze medallist PV Sindhu comfortably dismantled Indonesia’s Maria Febe Kusumastuti 21-13, 21-11.

The men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy edged out England’s Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge 24-22, 21-13, but Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa lost a close match to Japanese seventh seeds Reika Kakiiwa and Miyuki Maeda 19-21, 18-21.

World number 16 HS Prannoy went down to Hsu Jen Hao of Chinese Taipei 21-23, 21-19, 15-21 in the men’s singles first round. After losing a tight opening game, Prannoy bounced back to win the next against the world number 24. The Indian was outplayed in the decider after being level on 13 at one stage after which Prannoy could manage only two points to his opponent’s eight.

Nehwal, who is returning to international competition after an injury break, beat Thai world number 17 Busanan Ongbumrungphan 23-21, 14-21, 21-18. The Indian took the lead for the first time at 11-10 in the opening game that witnessed a close tussle with the lead changing hands multiple times before the experienced Nehwal closed it out.

The two traded points evenly until nine-all in the second game before Ongbumrungphan opened up a four-point lead at 13-9, which she extended to a seven-point lead at 18-11. Nehwal never looked like she was coming back in this game.

Nehwal led the decider from the start. The Indian opened up a five-point lead at 17-12, but the inspired Thai fought back to cut the lead down to 18-20. Nehwal drew from her experience to clinch the match.

Former world number one Chong Wei of Malaysia defeated eighth seed Kashyap 21-14, 21-15 for his seventh victory against the Indian in as many meetings. The first game ran closely until 15-14 in favour of the Malaysian. The decisive moment was the next immediate point when Kashyap was unable to return a Chong Wei smash and the Malaysian didn’t look back thereafter.

Kashyap was left to play catch up in the second game after Chong Wei took an early lead before breaking away at 13-11 to seal the match.

World number five Srikanth, meanwhile, made short work of Jayaram by beating him 21-10, 21-14.