Srikanth, Jwala-Ashwini lose in Australia Open

Jwala Gupta + Ashwini

Sydney, May 28 (IANS) Top Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth and the women's doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa were ousted from the $750,000 Australian Open Superseries following their defeat in the second round at the Sydney Olympic Park here on Thursday.

In the men's singles round two encounter, Srikanth got off to a brilliant start pocketing the first game against Chinese Tian Houwei 21-18.

However, the world No.4 faltered in the last two games against Tian, who is six rungs below Srikanth in the rankings. Srikanth lost the match 21-18, 17-21, 13-21.

After a hard fought second game, Tian breezed past his opponent, amassing five consecutive points in the deciding game. He then clinched the match in an hour and eight minutes.

With this win, Tian took a 2-0 lead over Srikanth in career meetings. Srikanth had lost to Tian in this year's Malaysia Open.

In the women's doubles match, Indonesian fourth seeds Nitya Krishinda Maheshwari and Greysia Polii beat Jwala and Ashwini 21-14, 21-10 in 32 minutes to proceed to the quarter-finals.

World No.1 Saina Nehwal is scheduled to play later in the day.