Asian badminton: Saina crashes out as India draw a blank

Ace shuttler and world number five Saina Nehwal on Thursday crashed out in the second round of the Asia Badminton Championship at Qingdao, China as India wrapped up their campaign on a disappointing note in the tournament. 

Fifth seed Saina was stunned by unseeded Xiao Jia Chen of China 13-21, 16-21 in just 45 minutes as curtains came crashing down on her campaign in the event. 

The lone surviving Indian in the men's singles event, Sai Praneeth B also failed to get past the third round after losing in straight games 9-21 18-21 to eight seed Zhengming Wang of China. 

It was also end of the road for rest of the Indian shuttlers as none of them could clear the second round hurdle. 

World number 16 mixed doubles pair of V Diju and Jwala Gutta had to bite the dust in the second round as well.

The Indian duo fought hard but could not save itself from elimination, losing 14-21, 21-11, 17-21 against Korean combination of Sa Rang Kim and Hye In Choi. 

The other Indian mixed doubles pair of Akshay Dewalkar and Pradnya Gadre also bowed out in the second round, losing 19-21, 7-21 to Hong Kong's Wai Hong Wong and Hoi Wah Chau.

Women's doubles pair of Pradnya Gadre and Prajakta Sawant also went down in the second round, losing 17-21, 12-21 to Thai duo of Duanganong Aroonkesorn and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul.