Odense (Denmark): Returning to the court after a two month break, Saina Nehwal made a rampaging start to her campaign in the Denmark Open, reaching the second round with a comfortable straight-game victory over Yeon Ju Bae of Korea here on Wednesday.
The London Olympics bronze medallist, Saina prevailed over Bae 21-17, 21-17 in a 39-minute women’s singles match.
In the men’s singles, qualifier Anand Pawar put up a fight against fifth seed Sho Sasaki, but it was the Japanese who had the last laugh as he saw off the Indian 14-21, 21-15, 21-11 in a 54-minute match.
Tarun Kona and Arun Vishnu also fell in the first hurdle after losing 20-22, 19-21 to the Indonesian pair of Angga Pratama and Ryan Agung Saputra in the men’s doubles.
Saina, ranked fourth in the world, took time to get off the mark. Bae fought tooth and nail and went neck and neck till 17-17 before the Indian reeled off four straight points to pocket the first game.
In the second game, Saina opened a 5-1 lead and kept her nose ahead to cruise to the next round, to be held on Thursday. (PTI)