Saina Nehwal crashes out of Japan Open after shock defeat

Saina Nehwal suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Japan's Minatsu Mitani on Thursday, 10 September, to crash out of the ongoing Japan Open Superseries in Tokyo.

Nehwal, who was seeded second in the tournament, was beaten 21-13, 21-16 in a 40-minute contest by Mitani.

The Japanese shuttlet had earlier pulled off a big upset when she trounced India's PV Sindhu in the opening round on Wednesday, 9 September.

The result means India's challenge in women's singles at the Japan Open has come to a premature end.

Earlier, commonwealth silver-medallist pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa produced a valiant show before going down 20-22, 21-18, 13-21 against eighth seeds Zhao Yunlei and Zhong Qianxin of China.

-ANI