Kashyap upsets world no. 19, Saina beaten in Hong Kong Open

Hong Kong, Aug 30 (UNI) Parupalli Kashyap shocked world number 19 Przemyslaw Wacha of Poland to storm into the men's singles pre-quarterfinals while Saina Nehwal failed to get past world number one Ning Zhang of Chin in women's section in the Yonex Hong Kong Open badminton championships here today.

Kashyap is now the sole Indian in fray in the five-star event as Chetan Anand, Anand Pawar and Ajay Jayaram failed to go past the second round.

Kashyap came back from one game down to save the day for the Indians by carving out a 17-21 22-20 21-13 upset win over the Polish shuttler.

But, the 20-year-old Hyderabad boy will now face veteran Taufiq Hidayat of Indonesia for a place in the last eight.

Saina, who defeated higher ranked Sarotja Chansrisukot of Thailand yesterday, lost 11-21, 16-21 to the defending champion Chinese shuttler.

Among other Indians, only Anand Pawar gave a fight but lost to Chong Wei Lee of Malaysia 22-20, 6-21, 11-2 while world number 22 Chetan Anand lost to Hwan Sung Park of Korea 12-21, 9-21.

Jayaram, who had to qualify for the main draw and pulled off a stunning upset against world number 12 Eric Pang of Netherlands yesterday, lost to world number 25 Kay Bin Yeoh of Malaysia 16-21, 16-21.

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