Top seed and local favourite Saina Nehwal Wednesday pulled out of the Syed Modi Grand Prix badminton tournament citing fever while world number 29 Ajay Jayaram was stunned by 136th-ranked Pakkawat Vilailak of Thailand.

Saina, who finished runners-up in BWF World Superseries Finals in China last week, was unlikely to feature in the home event because of fatigue and the sudden fever put paid to her participation. Her first round opponent Ma Pai Hsiao of Chinese Taipei got a walkover to the next stage.