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Saina Nehwal bows out

April 03, 2008 23:12 IST

India's best hope in the women's singles, Saina Nehwal bowed out of the Yonex Sunrise India Open Grand Prix badminton tournament, though Chetan Anand and Anand Pawar kept hopes alive by defeating their rivals in the men's pre-quarterfinal matches in Hyderabad on Thursday.

National champion Saina lost to Japan's Eriko Hirose 15-21, 10-21 in the second round.

Saina off to a flier

Two other Indian women shuttlers Gayatri Vartak and Aditi Mutatkar also crashed out losing to Julia Pei Xinn Wong of Malaysia and Pui Yin Yip of Hong Kong respectively.

Wong defeated Vartak 21-16, 21-17 while Yip prevailed over Mutatkar 18-21, 22-20, 21-11.

Chetan and Pawar though saved the day for the Indian camp as they moved into the quarterfinals with hard-earned victories over their rivals in men's singles.

National champion Chetan beat Yu Hsin Hsieh of Chinese Taipei 15-21, 21-16, 21-15, while Pawar thrashed Kay Bin Yeoh of Malaysia 21-16, 21-19.

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