Gimcheon (South Korea): P.V. Sindhu, Parupalli Kashyap and R.M.V. Gurusaidutt made winning starts to their respective campaigns at the $200,000 Badminton Asia Championships being held in the Gimcheon Indoor Stadium here Wednesday.
Sindhu, India's best bet at the continental event, beat Hong Kong's Cheung Ngan Yi 21-15, 15-21, 21-18 in exactly an hour to take a 2-0 lead in career meetings. However, in the second round, the women's singles World No.10 faces a tough challenge against Japanese Eriko Hirose, who has a 3-0 lead over Sindhu.
In men's singles, Kashyap did not have to break sweat to overcome Malaysia's Goh Soon Huat 21-14, 21-17 in 35 minutes -- his second victory over Goh in as many meetings. The Hyderabadi will take on Hsu Jen Hao of Chinese Taipei in the pre-quarterfinals.
Gurusaidutt also progressed to the last 16 edging past Thai shuttler Phetpradab Khosit 22-20, 23-21 in 44 minutes. The youngster will battle another Chinese Taipei shuttler Wang Tzu Wei in their first ever match.
Meanwhile, India's only seeded player in the tournament Kidambi Srikanth had to bite the dust as the seventh seed went down to China's two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan. 'Super' Dan needed only 32 minutes to beat the Indian 21-7, 21-14.
Lastly, Malaysia's Low Juan Shen and Heg Nelson Wei Keat took care of Manu Attri and B. Sumeeth Reddy 16-21, 21-13, 22-20 in a men's doubles playoff.
