It was a disappointing day for the Indian shuttlers on the first day China Master Super Series event played in China. In men’s singles, Ajay Jayaram lost in the first round to Chen Long, HS Prannoy, and K Srikanth also lost in the first round. PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal progressed to the second round of the tournament. The women’s doubles pair of Gutta-Ponappa also lost in the first round too.
In men’s singles, Ajay Jayaram took on Chen Long. In the first game, Chen Long began well taking a 3-1 lead. Chen Long dominated Ajay Jayaram. At the interval, Chen Long led 11-6. After the interval, Long made easy work of Jayaram and led 19-8. Chen Long won the first game 21-12. In the second game, Chen continued to dominate the Indian player. Chen Long led 7-3. At the interval, Chen Long led 11-5. After the interval, it was one-way traffic as Chen Long won the second set 21-11. In other singles match, Srikanth took on Yun. In the first game, Yun started on a good note taking a 4-2 lead. Yun dominated Srikanth and took points in succession. At the interval, Yun led 11-7. After the interval, Yun never allowed Srikanth to enter into the game and won the first set 21-12. In the second game, the Chinese player started well taking a 4-2 lead but this time Srikanth fought back well and equaled the score at 8-8. Soon after Yun took 2 points for a 10-8 lead before the Indian player led 11-10. After the interval, both players took alternate points till 13-13. Srikanth took the lead for the first time in the game at 14-13, but Yun played some excellent badminton and won the second game 21-18 and also match. HS Prannoy took on Gao Kui in the first round. In the first game, the Chinese dominated the game right from the start. Gao started well at 7-3. At the interval, Gao led 11-8. After the interval, Gao dominated the game and won the first set 21-14. In the second game, Gao began well taking a 4-1 and then 8-5 lead before HS Prannoy equaled at 8-8. At the interval, Gao led 11-10. After the interval, both players fought for each point and equaled till 12-12. HS Prannoy took points in succession and won the second game 21-17. In the third and deciding game both players fought for each point. At the interval, Gao led 11-10. After the interval, the fight continued for each point. It was equal at 19-19, but Gao held his nerve and won the deciding game 21-19.
Saina Nehwal took on Sun Yu in the first round. In the first game, it was a neck to neck fight between these two players. At the interval, Saina led 11-10. After the interval both fought for each point and it was 19-19 as Saina took the next two points to win the first set 22-20. In the second game, Sun Yu started well to take the lead but Saina came back to dominate the game. At the interval, Saina led 11-10. After the interval, Sun Yu made some mistakes and Saina took the advantage winning the second set 21-18. In other women’s singles match PV Sindhu took on Polikarpova. It was an easy outing for PV Sindhu. In the first game, the match started on an even note as both players were 2-2. Sindhu began to dominate the Russian player and took a commanding 6-3 lead. At the interval, PV Sindhu led 11-5. After the interval, PV Sindhu played some aggressive badminton and did not allow the Russian player to come back into the game winning the first game 21-14. In the second game, Sindhu started well to lead 2-1 before Russian player came back and equaled the score at 5-5. Sindhu took 6 successive points to make it 11-6 at the interval. After the interval, Sindhu never looked back and dominated the Russian player winning the second game 21-9 and match 21-14,21-9 to progress into the second round.
Jwala Gutta-Ponappa took on Fukuman and Yonao of Japan. In the first game, the Japanese dominated right from the start and never allowed the Indians to come back into the match. Yonao and Fukuman took a 7-5 lead. At the interval, the Japanese pair took an 11-8 lead. After the interval, the Indian pair tried to make a comeback but it was too late as the Japanese won the first game 21-16. In the second game, the Japanese pair was too strong for the Indian pair. The Japanese pair led 11-5 at the interval. After the interval, the Japanese continued to play aggressive badminton and won the second game 21-10.