Malaysia Open 2022: PV Sindhu, Parupali Kashyap win; Saina Nehwal loses again

    Indian shuttler PV Sindhu advanced to the second round at Malaysia Open Super 750 tournament. Saina Nehwal suffered a contrasting fate and was knocked out in the first round of the women’s singles event on June 29

     

    Indian professional badminton player Saina Nehwal Indian professional badminton player Saina Nehwal

    Former World Champion PV Sindhu gave an excellent performance to win 21-13, 21-17 against World No. 10 Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand. In contrast, Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal lost 11-21, 17-21 to World No. 33 Iris Wang of America in the opening round after just 37 minutes of play. PV Sindhu will face Phittayaporn Chaiwan of Thailand in the second round of the Malaysian Open. The 21-year-old Thai shuttler was a part of the squad that won the Uber Cup in Bangkok.

    The victory improved the win-loss record of PV Sindhu against Pornpawee Chochuwong to 5-3, with the Indian winning in their last meeting at the 2020 World Championship. PV Sindhu was at the top of her form and dominated the game, while the Thai shuttler suffered and struggled with her service and passing strokes despite being able to match the Indian with her rallies.

    PV Sindhu raced to a quick 4-1 lead in the first game with her well-placed smashes and aggressive attacking returns. She extended her lead to 16-11 after the break with well-polished front-court play and clinched the first game 21-13 with a powerful finishing smash. Pornpawee Chochuwong committed two errors early into the second game, allowing Sindhu to move 4-2 ahead. However, PV Sindhu lost her footing soon after while her Thai opponent kept clinching points and got a 16-10 lead with the help of two powerful return strikes.

    PV Sindhu fought back and levelled the scores at 17-17. She soon regained her lead and won three consecutive points to seal her victory.

    Three-time Commonwealth Games medallist Parupali Kashyap marked his return from a medical break with a 21-13, 21-17 victory over Heo Kwang Hee of Korea. World No. 39 Parupali Kashyap will lock horns with Kunlavut Vitidsam of Germany. The German shuttler came into the tournament after winning the March German Open Super 300 title.

    The Indian doubles pairing of Ashwini Ponnappa and B Sumeeth Reddy lost 15-21, 21-19, 17-21 to the Dutch duo of Robin Tabeling and Selena Piek after an intense 52-minute long clash.

     

     

     

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