Winning start for Sania Nehwal to the Hong Open Super Series with a hard-fought 21-19, 23-21 round one win against Mette Poulsen of Denmark in women’s singles while second seed PV Sindhu also advanced to the second round with a 21-18, 21-10 win over qualifier Leung Yuet Yee of Hong Kong on Wednesday.
HS Prannoy had a tough outing before seeing off Hong Kong’s Hu Yun 19-21, 21-17, 21-15 to make it to the second round in men’s singles.
Nehwal, the 2010 Hong Kong Open winner, will next face a tough opponent in teen sensation Chen Yufei, who is seeded eight in the competition.
Women’s doubles pair of Ashwini Ponappa and Sikki Reddy lost to Chinese pair of Huang Dongping and Li Wenmei 11-21, 21-19, 19-21 in the first round.