Korea Open: Sindhu, Sai Praneeth, Saina bow out; Kashyap advances

Parupalli Kashyap was the lone Indian to survive in the singles event after star shuttlers P V Sindhu, Saina Nehwal and B Sai Praneeth made first round exits at the Korea Open badminton tournament here on Wednesday.

Kashyap registered a comfortable 21-16 21-16 over Lu Chia Hung of Chinese Taipei in a men's singles match match that lasted 42 minutes.

The first round casualties for India included World Champion Sindhu, who bowed out of the tournament after going down 7-21 24-22 15-21 at the hands of USA's Beiwen Zhang, Sai Praneeth and Saina -- both retired hurt in their respective first round matches.

World Championships bronze-medallist Sai Praneeth was trailing 9-21 7-11 when he conceded the match to fifth-seeded Anders Antonsen of Denmark due to an ankle injury.

London Olympic bronze medallist Saina was trailing 21-19, 18-21 and 1-8 against South Korea's Kim Ga Eun when she was forced to retire.

Saina's husband and personal coach Kashyap said she retired because of gastroenteritis ..