Auckland: India’s Saina Nehwal suffered a shocking first round loss to world number 212 Wang Zhiyi of China to exit the New Zealand Open here Wednesday.
The 29-year-old Olympic bronze medallist and World No.9 lost 16-21, 23-21, 4-21 to her 19-year-old opponent in the women’s singles match that lasted one hour and seven minutes.
In men’s singles, Lakshya Sen’s campaign also ended with a hard-fought loss against Taiwan’s Wang Tzu Wei. Lakshya lost 21-15, 18-21, 10-21 in an hour and eight minutes.
Earlier in the day, the pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy fought hard against Chinese duo of Liu Xuanxuan and Xia Yuting before losing 14-21, 23-21, 14-21 in an hour and 10 minutes.
But the men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy registered a win over New Zealand’s Joshua Feng and Jack Jiang 21-17, 21-10.
Anura Prabhudesai also lost to World No.15 Li Xuerui 9-21, 10-21 in singles first round on a disappointing day for Indian shuttlers.
PTI
