Thailand Open 2022: Saina Nehwal crashes out in first round, Kidambi Srikanth wins

Source: Twitter

Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal crashed out of the Thailand Open 2022 after losing to South Korea's Kim Ga Eun in the women's singles first-round match in Bangkok on Wednesday (May 18). Playing in the court 3, Nehwal lost the match by 21-11, 15-21, 17-21. The two-time Olympic medalist for India dominated the first game, winning it by 21-11. But her South Korean counterpart had the last laugh as she bounced back in the next two games, winning them by 15-21, 17-21.

The mixed doubles match featuring India's Reddy B Sumeeth and Ashwini Ponnappa against Japan's Yuki Kaneko and Misaki Matsutomo also ended in disappointment for the former. Sumeeth and Ponnappa crashed out of the tournament after losing the first two games 21-17 each.

PV Sindhu will be in action soon against USA's Lauren Lam later. Meanwhile, the Indian shuttler Malvika Bansod started her Thailand Open 2022 campaign with a win over Ukraine's Marija Ulitina in the women's singles category at Bangkok on Wednesday. She won the game 17-21, 21-15, 21-11, playing on court 2.

The first game was a closely fought one, with the Ukrainian getting the better of her Indian opponent 17-21. Bansod made a strong comeback in the next two games, winning 21-15 and 21-11, and sealing the match for her country. The match lasted 50 minutes.

Just in:
Saina Nehwal crashes OUT in 1st round of Thailand Open (BWF World Tour Super 500); lost to WR 19 Kim Ga Eun 21-11, 15-21, 17-21.
Its been more than a year (8 tournaments) that Saina has won 2 consecutive matches on the BWF tour. #ThailandOpen2022 pic.twitter.com/WUByDw0qq7

— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) May 18, 2022

On the other hand, Canada's Michelle Li defeated India's Aakarshi Kashyap in the first round of women's singles. The win was a comprehensive one for Li as she won 21-13 and 21-18. The match lasted 33 minutes.

Also, the Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth opened his Thailand Open 2022 men's singles draw with a victory over France's Brice Leverdez, in Bangkok on Wednesday (May 18). Playing on Court 2, Srikanth defeated Leverdez 18-21, 21-10, 21-16, in a match that lasted 49 minutes.

Srikanth made a spectacular comeback after losing the first game and clinched victory in the next two games. On the other hand, shuttler Ashmita Chaliha lost in her women's single's first round against Thailand`s Ratchanok Intanon. The Indian shuttler was completed dominated by Ratchanok 10-21, 15-21 in the 29-minute long match, here at Court 1.