Adidas China Masters: Anand Pawar advances into second round

Chen Long of China in action during his match against Lin Dan of China Badminton 2013 World Championships at the Tianhe Gymnasium on August 9, 2013 in Guangzhou, China. (Photo by Victor Fraile/Getty Images)

Anand Pawar has reached the second round of the on-going Adidas Masters after World No.2 Chen Long of China handed him a walkover.

The reason for the walkover is unknown as yet. Chen Long was expected to win easily against the 39th ranked Indian.

Long had come into the tournament on the back of an unexpected loss in the Chinese National Games quarter-finals, where he was upset 21-19, 21-19 by Chen Yuekun, who is incidentally Ajay Jayaram‘s opponent tomorrow.

Jayaram and Pawar are the only Indian representatives in the China Masters Superseries, with other top Indian players skipping it for more rest after the end of the IBL.