China Open: Saina Nehwal crashes out, Sai Praneeth advances

Saina Nehwal was ousted in the first round of the China Open, while Sai Praneeth claimed a hard-fought win over Thailand's Suppanyu Avihingsanon to advance to the next round.

Saina Nehwal exited the 2019 China Open with a loss to Busnanan Ongbamrungphan in the very first round.

Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal suffered a first round ouster at the China Open after slipping to a straight-game defeat to Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the opening round on Wednesday.

The eight seeded Indian went down 10-21, 17-21 to Busanan in 44 minutes, in what was her second consecutive defeat to the Thai shuttler.

The loss highlights Saina's struggle to regain form after she was forced out of action for over two months owing to injuries. She claimed the Indonesia Open title in the beginning of the year, but has failed to reach another final since.

- Sai Praneeth advances -

In the men's singles, Sai Praneeth claimed a hard-fought 21-19, 21-23, 21-14 victory over Thailand's Suppanyu Avihingsanon in the first round. He will next face China's Lu Guangzu, who claimed a massive 21-5, 21-9 win over third seed Shi YuQi.