Indonesia Masters: Sindhu rallies to down Ohori

Saina, Praneeth, Srikanth, Verma exit.

World champion P V Sindhu advanced to the second round of the Indonesia Masters after a hard-earned victory over Japan's Aya Ohori, even as defending champion Saina Nehwal suffered a shock exit from the Super 500 tournament, in Jakarta, on Wednesday.

It was also curtains for World Championships bronze medallist B Sai Praneeth, Kidambi Srikanth and Sourabh Verma.

Fifth seed Sindhu clawed back from a game down to score a 14-21, 21-15, 21-11 victory over Ohori.

Sindhu has never lost to the world No. 20 Japanese in their 10 meetings. Ohori lost to the Indian last week in the second round of the Malaysia Masters.

The 24-year-old Sindhu will take on Japan's Sayaka Takahashi, who defeated Saina, in the second round.

Saina, who won this tournament last year before going through a lean patch, lost 21-19 13-21 5-21 to Takahashi in 50 minutes.

The London Olympics bronze medallist had reached the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Masters last week.

World No.12 Srikanth went down to local favourite Shesar Hiren Rhustavito 21-18, 12-21, 14-21 in a match that lasted 63 minutes.

Praneeth, who like Srikanth was also ousted in the opening round of the Malaysia Masters, lost to eighth seeded Chinese Shi Yu Qi 21-16, 18-21, 10-21.

Sourabh lost 21-17, 15-21, 10-21 to China's Lu Guang Zu.

In mixed doubles, Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Sikki Reddy went down to the South Korean combination of Ko Sung Hyun and Eom Hye Won 8-21, 14-21.