New Zealand Open: Saina Nehwal defeated in first round by World No. 212 Wang Zhiyi; Lakshya Sen eliminated in hard-fought loss

Auckland: India’s Saina Nehwal suffered a shocking first round loss to World No. 212 Wang Zhiyi of China in straight games to exit the New Zealand Open on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old Olympic bronze medallist and World No. nine 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.

Saina, a World Championship silver medallist, trailed 0-4 in the first game and was unable to keep up with her opponent losing 16-21.

Wang stretched Saina in the second game which the Indian won 23-21. There was no fightback from the Indian in the decider as Wang won eight consecutive points to win it easily.

Anura Prabhudesai also lost to world number 15 Li Xuerui 9-21, 10-21 in singles first round on a disappointing day for Indian shuttlers.