India's campaign ends in Thailand Open; Saina, Satwik-Ashwini lose, injured Srikanth pulls out

Star India shuttler Saina Nehwal was kcked out of Yonex Thailand Open Super 1000 event after losing women's singles second round to Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan here on Thursday.In a battle of attrition, Saina mand to grab opening game but ran out of steam in end, losing 23-21 14-21 16-21 in a match that clocked 68 minutes. It was Saina's fourth straight loss to world number 12 Busanan.

In men's singles, former world number one Kidambi Srikanth was forced to give a walkover to his eighth seeded Malaysian opponent Lee Zii Jia after pulling up his right calf muscle.Indian men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also bowed out of competition after suffering a 19-21 17-21 defeat against second seeded Indonesian combination of Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan.

Later in day, Satwik and his mixed doubles partner Ashwini Ponnappa went down 12-21 17-21 to Hong Kong pairing of Chang Tak Ching and Ng Wing Yung to draw curtains on India's campaign. Saina and Busanan engd in some long rallies but it was Thai shuttler who had last laugh as she dished out some delectable drops and also stood out with better placement of shots.Busanan opened up a 3-0 lead early on but Saina slowly came back and took a narrow 6-5 lead. A cross court shot helped Busanan turn tables again as she led 11-9 at break.

Thai player maintained her two-point cushion till 15-13 but a precise stroke at backline helped Saina to draw parity. duo n moved neck and neck till 17-17 before Saina mand to eke out a two-point lead with a superb net shot.Saina held a couple of game points with her opponent miscuing a net shot but Busanan once again caught up with Indian, grabbing a game point herself.

Saina made her rival twist and turn across court and n produced ar precise shot at backline to again take lead. She pocketed game when Busanan's weak return found net.In second game, Busanan again raced to a 5-3 lead with Saina committing few unforced errors. Thai looked in control as she moved to 10-6 before going into interval with a four-point lead.Busanan continued her fine run and strengned her net play too to extend advant to 15-9. Saina narrowed deficit with four straight points.

Busanan, however, broke run of points by reeling off five points on trot to reach game point and roared back into contest when Indian hit wide.After change of sides, Thai girl was quick to jump to a 5-1 lead. Saina mand to cut down lead to 4-6 but things were t going too well for her as she eir found net or hit long, handing Busanan a comfortable 11-7 advant again.

Saina's struggles continued after brear as Busanan led 18-11. Indian won a few points before handing her rival six match points. Saina saved two match points before hitting one long. 

(IM CREDITS:AP)