Bangkok, Jan 13:
Star India shuttler Saina Nehwal and former world number one Kidambi Srikanth entered the second rounds of their respective events but Parupalli Kashyap made an early exit from the Thailand Open Super 1000 tournament, here today.
Saina got the better of Selvaduray Kisona of Malaysia 21-15 21-15 in the women’s singles opening round to set up a clash with Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan.
Saina, who was first forced to withdraw from the event for positive COVID-19 results on Tuesday but later returned a negative test, thanked the Badminton World Federation officials and doctors for allowing her to participate.
Earlier in the day, Srikanth took just 31 minutes to prevail over compatriot Sourabh Verma 21-12 21-11 in the men’s singles, but Kashyap was forced to retire midway in his opening-round match against Jason Anthony Ho-Shue of Canada.
Kashyap, a Commonwealth Games champion, was trailing 8-14 in the third game when he chose to retire after puling his calf muscle.
He had lost the first game 9-21 before making a comeback to take the second 21-13.
Srikanth will next play eight seed Zii Jia Lee of Malaysia, who defeated another Indian HS Prannoy 13-21 21-14 21-8.(PTI)
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