Chetan crashes out, Saina advances in 2nd rd in All England

Birmingham, Mar 8 (UNI) Saina Nehwal won a closely contested game against Malaysian qualifier Anita Raj Kaur to advance into the second round while Chetan Anand crashed out of the All England badminton championship here.

World number 32 Saina was not allowed to settle down and dictate terms by her opponent, ranked 25 places lower and the 17-year-old Indian needed 43 minutes to chalk out a 20-22, 21-15, 21-19 victory in women's singles.

Saina now runs into third seed Wang Chen of Hong Kong in the second round.

However, top Indian shuttler Chetan Anand was outplayed by third seed Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia 12-21, 4-21 in men's singles first round.

In women's doubles, Jwala Gutta and Shruti Kurian also lost their opening round match to Vita Marissa and Polii Greysia 16-21, 21-7, 10-21.

Earlier, Anup Sridhar, P Kashyap, Anand Pawar and Nikhil Kanetkar had failed to qualify for the main round.

Sridhar had lost to Sato Shoji of Japan 21-8, 17-21, 16-21 in a qualifying round final while all his three compatriots fell in the earlier rounds.

UNI