PV Sindhu, the reigning world champion, defeated Indonesia's Gregoria Tunjung (world number 16) 22-20, 21-18 in the first round of Denmark Open, the World Tour Super 750 tournament
Odense (Denmark): India’s ace shuttler PV Sindhu earned a hard-fought victory to enter the pre-quarterfinal stage of the $ 775,000 Denmark Open on Tuesday (October 15).
Sindhu, the reigning world champion, defeated Indonesia's Gregoria Tunjung (world number 16) 22-20, 21-18 in the first round of the World Tour Super 750 tournament.
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The world number six Indian extended her domination over Tunjung to 6-0. However, it was not an easy passage to the Round of 16 for Sindhu, who has not won a title in the BWF World Tour this season.
After claiming the world title in August, Sindhu endured surprise first and second round exits at the China Open and Korea Open last month, respectively.
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Earlier on Tuesday, India’s Parupalli Kashyap was knocked out in the first round after he lost 13-21, 12-21 to Thailand's Sitthikom Thammasin.
Meanwhile, world no 8 Saina Nehwal has been going through a tough phase with fitness issues hindering her progress since claiming the Indonesia Masters in January.
The London Olympic bronze medallist, who was diagnosed with a gastroenteritis problem in March, made first-round exits at China and Korea and she aim to get deep into the draw.
A finalist at the last edition, Saina, seeded 8th, is up against World No 12 from Japan Sayaka Takahashi, who had defeated the Indian the last time they meet at the Thailand Open in August.
Former champion Kidambi Srikanth, who had skipped the events in China and Korea due to a knee issue, too will be eager to make a positive start but he will have to get past Denmark's Anders Antonsen in the opening round.
While Srikanth had beaten Antonsen at the 2017 World Championships, the Danish shuttler has come a long way since then, having reached the finals of the World Championships at Switzerland.
Currently ranked fourth, Antonsen has won the Indonesia Masters, Barcelona Spain Masters, European Games and made it to the finals at Indonesia Open Super 1000 this year.
World Championships bronze medallist B Sai Praneeth will be up against the legendary Lin Dan, who had entered the finals at Thailand Masters in January and won the Malaysia Open in April but have looked off-colour since then.
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