India's top shuttlers PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal today suffered shocking first-round exits from the Malaysia Open Super Series here.
Rio Olympics silver-medallist Sindhu was shown the door by unseeded Chen Yufei of China 18-21 21-19 21-17 in women's singles at the Stadium Perpaduan. It took Chen one hour and eight minutes to get the better of the sixth-seeded Indian, who entered the tournament following her title triumph in the India Open last Sunday.
While London Games bronze-winner Saina lost to Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, seeded fourth, 19-21 21-13 21-15 in a match that lasted 56 minutes.
However, Ajay Jayaram defeated Chinese Qiao Bin in straight sets 21-11 21-8, needing barely 31 minutes to complete a comfortable win in the men's singles opening round match. But the men's doubles combo of Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy lost to Chinese Taipei's Liao Kuan Hao and Lu Chia Pin 18-21 21-18 21-17.
Join The Quint on WhatsApp. Type “JOIN” and send to 9910181818.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)