India’s challenge in women’s singles in the Japan Open Super Series comes to an end.
Tokyo: World number one shuttler Saina Nehwal crashed out of the Japan Open Superseries after suffering a straight set defeat against unseeded Japanese Minatsu Mitani in the second round at Tokyo on Thursday.
Nehwal, who was seeded second in the tournament, was beaten 21-13, 21-16 in a 40-minute contest against superior opponent Mitani.
Mitani also pulled off a big upset when she trounced India’s PV Sindhu in the opening round on Wednesday.
This will certainly come as a big blow for the Indian, keeping in mind the fine year that she has had so far.
The result means India’s challenge in women’s singles has come to an end.
Earlier, commonwealth silver-medallist pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa produced a valiant show before going down 20-22 21-18 13-21 against eighth seeds Zhao Yunlei and Zhong Qianxin of China.
Pradnya Gadre and N Sikki Reddy also lost on Wednesday, while Ajay Jayaram was shown the exit door by Dane Viktor Axelson.