London Olympics bronze medallist departs in the second round of French Open World Super Series after losing to Japan's Yamaguchi
Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal, 27, suffered a loss in the second round of the French Open World Superseries here yesterday. London Olympics bronze medallist Nehwal lost to Japanese fifth seed Akane Yamaguchi, 20, 9-21, 21-23 in 39 minutes.
Saina Nehwal. Pics/Getty Images
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It was Yamaguchi's third consecutive win over Nehwal, who still leads the Japanese 3-1 in head-to-head records. Yamaguchi completely dominated Nehwal in the first match after opening up a 13-7 lead before winning it 21-9.
Nehwal, however, fought valiantly in the second game. Yamaguchi started again strongly, holding a 7-3 lead. Nehwal kept trailing before managing to equalise at the 19-point mark before taking a 20-19 lead.
Nehwal fights back
However, the 2017 Asian Championships silver medallist quickly hit back and pulled level at the 20-point mark and took a 21-20 lead. Nehwal once again kept herself in the reckoning, equalising at 21-21. But Yamaguchi stepped up her game to seal it 23-21.
Akane Yamaguchi
Sindhu, Srikanth advance
Meanwhile, PV Sindhu, who also has been in good form this season with two titles and a silver at the World Championship, beat Japan's Sayaka Takahashi 21-14, 21-13 yesterday. Earlier, she saw off Spain's Beatriz Corrales 21-19, 21-18 in the first round.
Kidambi Srikanth, who had clinched his third title of the season at Denmark Open Super Series, beat Hong Kong's Wong Wing Ki Vincent, whom he had beaten last week, 21-19, 21-17. The World No. 8 Indian emerged victories after his opponent Germany's Fabian Roth retired at 0-3 in the opening game.
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