Saina lose but Jwala-Ashwini keeps India in hunt in Korea

The world number four Indian,who looked rusty in her first round match against Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei on Wednesday,lost 21-17 19-21 11-21 to Sayaka in 53 minutes in the women’s singles today.

P Kashyap also became a second round casualty after losing 16-21 13-21 to third seed Peter Hoeg Gade of Denmark in 38 minutes in men’s singles.

Jwala Gutta and V Diju also tasted defeat at the hands of sixth seeded Chinese pair of Tao Jiaming and Qing Tian,losing 16-21 13-21 within half an hour in the mixed doubles category.

Commonwealth gold medallist pair of Jwala and Ashwini,however,made sure that Indian camp had something to cheer about by reaching the third round with a 21-18 14-21 21-15 win over Mizuki Fujii and Reika Kakiiwa on Thursday.

Saina,who missed on-court action for more than a month due to a ligament injury in her right knee,relied on her powerful smashes but Sayato played better at the nets to run away with the match.

The 20-year-old Indian had her nose ahead after the first game,which she won 21-17 but Sayato bounced back after wresting the second game at 21-19 and then kept the pressure on Saina,whose game crumbled.