Indian challenge ends at Macau Open

Indian challenge at the Macau Open Super Series ended with shuttlers P Kashyap, RMV Gurusaidutt and Aditi Mutatkar losing their respective matches in singles category.

Gurusaidutt, who had reached the finals of the Indian Open in June, put up a brave fight before going down 21-13, 15-21, 17-21 to 16th seed Kazushi Yamada of Japan in an engrossing match that lasted 50 minutes.

In another men's singles, 12th seed Kashyap was stunned by Daren Liew of Malaysia, who beat Chih Hsun Yang of Chinese Taipei in the first round.

Kashyap squandered a lead to go down 21-13, 13-21, 19-21 in a hard-fought match which lasted almost an hour.

In the women's singles first round, India's only hope Aditi Muttatkar was outclassed by Chinese Xuerui Li, who had beaten Saina Nehwal in the Asian badminton Championship in New Delhi.

The Chinese player beat Aditi 21-6, 23-21, 21-14 in a 42-minute clash.

Earlier, Gurusaidutt had thrashed qualifier Chi Chong Wong 21-6, 21-1 in the first round, while Kashyap's opponent Magnus Sahlberg had retired midway at 21-14, 15-3.