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Saina, Kashyap lose in second round at Korean Open

January 27, 2011 16:05 IST

Saina Nehwal made a disappointing return from injury, suffering a shock defeat to Japan's Sayaka Sato in the second round of the women's singles at the Korean Super Series in Seoul on Thursday.

The world No 4 Indian, who looked rusty in her first round match against Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei on Wednesday, was beaten by Sayaka 21-17, 19-21, 11-21 in 53 minutes.

P Kashyap was also a second round casualty after losing 16-21, 13-21 to third seed Peter Hoeg Gade of Denmark in 38 minutes, in the men's singles.

Jwala Gutta and V Diju also tasted defeat at the hands of the sixth seeded Chinese pair of Tao Jiaming and Qing Tian, losing 16-21, 13-21 in 30 minutes in the mixed doubles category.

Saina, who missed on-court action for more than a month due to a ligament injury in her right knee, relied on her powerful smashes but Sayato played better at the net to run away with the match.

The 20-year-old Indian was ahead after the first game, which she won 21-17 but Sayato bounced back after wresting the second 21-19 and then kept the pressure on Saina, whose game crumbled.

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