Saina, Sindhu toppled in Malaysia Open 1st Round

Kuching (Malaysia), April 5: Indian star shuttlers P.V. Sindhu and Saina Nehwal suffered setbacks in the opening round of the Malaysia Open Superseries Premier, while Ajay Jayaram moved into the men s singles second round here on Wednesday.Sixth seed and 2016 Olympic silver medallist Sindhu were toppled by world No.13 Chen Yufei of China 21-18, 19-21, 17-21 in an hour and eight minutes.Sindhu s veteran compatriot, Saina fell to in-form Japanese world No.4 Akane Yamaguchi, who won 19-21, 21-13, 21-15 in 56 minutes.The men s doubles pair of Manu Attri and B. Sumeeth Reddy also crashed out of the competition. The Indian combine lost to Chinese Taipei s Liao Kuan Hao and Lu Chia Pin 21-18, 18-21, 17-21.World No.19 Jayaram, however, crossed the first-round barrier, brushing aside Chinese Qiao Bin 21-11, 21-8 in 31 minutes.Later in the day, B. Sai Praneeth and the mixed doubles pair of Sumeeth and N. Sikki Reddy will be in action.