Eng Open: Sridhar wins qualifying round 1

New Delhi:

India started its campaign in the Yonex All England Open Super Series on a positive note with shuttlers Anup Sridhar and Anand Pawar winning their respective first round qualifying matches in London on Tuesday.

Beijing Olympian Sridhar defeated Malaysian Beng Hong Kuan 21-12, 12-21, 21-19 in 41 minutes while Pawar pipped Carl Baxter of England 18-21, 21-17, 23-21 in a gruelling 52-minute battle.

Sridhar will next meet Wei Feng Chong of Malaysia in the second qualifying round while Pawar will face Ireland's Scott Evans, who beat Englishman Rajiv Ouseph.

However, in the men's double qualifiers, Chetan Anand and D Viju squandered a first game lead to go down against English pair of Marcus Ellis and Robin Middleton in the opening round.

The Indian duo lost 21-17, 17-21, 17-21 to the English pair after a 47-minute clash.