Contrasting fortunes for defending champions

Men's singles champion Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia was bounced out of the Li Ning Singapore Open Superseries while women's champion Saina Nehwal barely survived to make the cut to the second round on the opening day of the US$200,000 tournament on Wednesday.

Sony, who was carrying a wrist injury coming into the tournament, faced 2009 champion Bao Chunlai of China in the match of the day at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The seventh seeded Bao Chunlai (left), won a tight first game 21-19 before romping home in the second 21-13.


The crowd were treated to a world-class display of stinging smashes, deft dropshots and excellent courtcraft in the opening set which saw the lead exchange hands on numerous occasions. However, serving at 19-20 down, Sony's smashed into the net to gift Bao Chunlai the psychologically-important first game.


"As the defending champion, I really wanted to win this tournament," a disappointed Sony told a post-match conference. "But I had hurt my waist during training six months ago. I thought it would stand up to the task but the injury affected my game, especially in the second set. I felt OK in the first set but thereafter, it troubled me."


Bao Chunlai credited his win to his patience and a strategy to tire out his opponent. He said: "Sony was not in top form, especially in the second game. I played a patient and controlled game and am happy that the tactic worked. I really hope to play well in this tournament as this is the first (OSIM BWF World Superseries tournament) Olympic qualification event. It is important to me that I do well in Singapore."


World junior champion Viktor Axelsen got his revenge for last week's first round SCG Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold loss to Malaysia's Wong Choong Hann when the Dane won their rematch 25-23, 21-19. He will now face Bao Chunlai for a place in the quarter-finals. The top two seeds in the men's singles, former world champions Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia and China's Lin Dan also qualified for Thursday's second round.


Reigning Olympic and Asian Games gold medallist Lin Dan, defeated South Korea's Shon Wan Ho 21-14, 21-15 while top seed Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia was made to fight his way into the second round after Malaysia qualifier Liew Daren took the first game 22-24. However, Taufik used his experience and made a comeback 21-12, 21-18.


Saina (right), meanwhile, took on 2009 world champion Lu Lan of China for the second week in a row. Last week in Bangkok, the Indian ace needed three games to defeat her opponent in the opening round and it was the same once again in Singapore. The Commonwealth Games gold medallist took the first game 21-18, before falling 21-13 in the second. Just like in Bangkok, Saina rose up to take the third 21-16 to seal her place in the second round, where she will meet Taipei's Cheng Shao Chieh.


"I'm really happy to be here and I hope to continue my winning rhythm against Chinese players. I won quite a few matches against them, it's a good advantage. I hope that this tournament will contribute to me qualifying for the Olympics," said the Commonwealth Games gold medallist. Joining Saina in the second round is top seed and world No.1 Wang Shixian, who defeated Singapore's Fu Mingtian 21-10, 21-15.


The Victor Korea Open Superseries Premier winner will now take on world champion Wang Lin for a place in the quarter-finals. Wang Lin, who has only just recovered from a long-term knee injury, booked her place in the second round by beating Russia's Anastasia Prokopenko 21-15, 21-8. Second seed Wang Yihan safely made it to the next round when she ousted Indonesia's Adrianti Firdasari 21-17, 21-17