Wuhan (China), Apr 21:
India’s Parupalli Kashyap made a resounding start to his campaign at the USD 200,000 Badminton Asia Championship, thrashing Singapore’s Zi Liang Derek Wong in straight games to reach the second round of the continental championship here today.
Commonwealth Games champion, Kashyap, who held a 4-2 record against his rival before the match, outplayed Wong 21-17 21-13 in a 39-minute contest at the Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium.
The 28-year-old from Hyderabad will next take on Ya Ching Hsu of Chinese Taipei tomorrow.
Kashyap has beaten Hsu twice, the last being at the India Super Series last month at the Siri Fort Complex in New Delhi.
It was heartbreak for the Commonwealth Games silver medallist Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa who failed to cross the opening hurdle, going down fighting 17-21 21-15 15-21 to Chinese Taipei pair of Yu Po Pai and Ya Ching Hsu. (PTI)
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