Indonesia Open: Saina Nehwal edges past Ratchanok to enter second round

Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal came out with a splendid performance against Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon to enter the second round of the Indonesia Open Super Series Premier on Tuesday.

Nehwal bounced back from a game down to register a 17-21, 21-18, 21-12 win over the eighth seeded Intanon in a grueling contest that lasted for 57 minutes.

The 27-year-old Indian got off to a good start in the first game, taking a 10-4 lead before her Intanon came back strongly and won the game 21-17.

However in the second game, Nehwal did not let the advantage go off her hands and leveled the match by winning the second game 21-18.

Nehwal, who has been struggling with her fitness and form and had slipped out of the world top 10 for the first time in last seven years, dominated the third game completely and won the game 21-12.

Meanwhile, in the mixed doubles event, the Indian pair of B Sumeeth Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa suffered a straight games defeat at the hand of Indonesian duo of Irfan Fadhilah and Weni Anggraini.

The Indian pair was defeated 12-21, 9-21 that lasted for just 29 minutes.

-ANI