Fuzhou, November 16: Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu won her opening match while Saina Nehwal crashed out in the first round of the women’s singles category at the China Open badminton tournament at the Haixia Olympic Sport Center here on Wednesday.
Sindhu coasted to a 21-12, 21-16 win over Chia Hsin Lee of Taiwan in her round of 32 match.
Sindhu, who took the bronze medal at the Rio Olympics earlier this year, will face Beiwen Zhang of Singapore in the pre-quarterfinals.
Sindhu is playing her first tournament since the Rio Olympics.
Saina, meanwhile, lost to Porntip Buranaprasertsuk of Thailand in a hard fought encounter.
Indians enjoyed a better outing in the men’s singles section with both H.S. Prannoy and Ajay Jayaram winning their respective first round matches.
Prannoy entered the second round following an easy 21-13, 21-13 win over Ka Long Angus Ng of Hong Kong.
Prannoy will take on Bin Qiao of China in the last 16 stage.
