Hong Kong Open: Sindhu outclasses Thai's Jindapol; Nehwal makes first-round exit

India's star shuttler PV Sindhu defeated Thailand's Nitchaon Jindapol by registering 21-15, 13-21, 21-17 win in a contest that lasted less than an hour to advance into the second round. 

The 23-year-old shuttler lost the second game but showed her character to win the third and deciding round to set up a clash with Sung Ji Hyun of Korea. 

Meanwhile, Saina Nehwal, who claimed a second Commonwealth Games gold and a bronze at the Asian Games this season, was outclassed by formidable Akane Yamaguchi 21-10, 10-21, 19-21. 

In a tightly fought contest, Saina won the first game comprehensively but the second-seeded Japanese came back strongly to win the second game and take the match for the decider. 

The duo challenged each other in the final game but Saina lost it by a margin of two points to bow out of the tournament.

Sindhu will now be carrying India's challenge in the Women's Singles. If she managed to beat her opponent in the second round then she is likely to face China's He Bingjiao in the quarterfinals, an opponent who has defeated her three times in 2018.