Saina advances to round 2 of Malaysian Super Series

Kuala Lumpur:

Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal started her season on a winning note, dispatching little known German Nicole Grether in straight games to enter the second round of Malaysian Super Series badminton tournament here on Wednesday.

World number 10 Saina took just 26 minutes to sent Nicole packing 21-15, 21-8 in the first round to set up a clash with Hsiao Huan Chen of Chinese Taipei, who defeated compatriot Shih Ying Chen 21-18, 21-15, in the second round on Thursday.

Saina made a cautious start and gradually moved to a 7-3 lead before taking full control to wrap up the first game 21-15. The Indian was even more dominant in the second game and wrapped up the match in just 26 minutes.

The Indians had a good day in the men's singles competition as well with Anup Sridhar and Chetan Anand advancing to the next level after notching up easy wins.

While Chetan beat Canadian Bobby Milroy 21-10, 21-12, Sridhar got the better of Malaysian Muhammad Roslin Hashim 21-17, 21-14.

However, Anand Pawar's campaign ended after he went down fighting to Taipei's Hsuan Yi Hsueh 27-25, 16-21, 19-21 in over an hour long contest.

Meanwhile, the mixed doubles pair of V Diju and Jwala Gutta beat Taipei's Chieh Min Fang and Wen Hsing Cheng 21-17, 21-15 in their tournament opener.

But there was disappointment in men's doubles as Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas lost 9-21, 17-21 to the Polish duo Michal Logosz and Robert Mateusiak.