Thailand Open: Saina struggles to get past first round

New Delhi - Top seed Saina Nehwal of India edged past local girl Nichaon Jindapon in the first round women’s singles of the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold in Bangkok Wednesday.

According to information received here, Saina, World No.5, beat Jindapon 21-13, 16-21, 21-15 in 59 minutes at the Cu Sport Complex.

Saina next faces China’s Li Han in the second round here Thursday.

In the men’s singles, Sameer Verma shocked 11th seeded Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk of Thailand 21-10, 22-20 to reach the second round.

Among other Indians, K. Srikanth beat Marius Myhre 14-21, 21-12, 21-7 while 12th seeded Sourabh Varma thrashed Sukamta Evert 21-11, 21-12 and Sai Praneeth won 15-21, 25-23, 21-17 against Wisnu Yuli Prasetyo.

But there was some bad news as Anand Pawar and Gurusai Dutt suffered first round losses. Pawar lost 21-15, 18-21, 19-21 to ninth seed Brice Leverdez, while 14th seed Gurusai Dutt went down 21-18, 14-21, 13-21 to Soon Huat Goh.

In the mixed doubles competition, the Indian duo of Arun Vishnu and Aparna Balan lost 14-21, 13-21 to Jian Guo Ong and Yin Loo Lim.