Hong Kong: India’s ace shuttler Saina Nehwal crashed out of the Hong Kong Open badminton tournament after losing her first round match on Wednesday (November 13).

Saina lost to China's Cai Yan Yan 13-21, 20-22. The Chinese made an aggressive start to the match and she did not allow Nehwal to get into her groove.

Also read: Saina Nehwal knocked out in first round of China Open

After losing the first game, Nehwal tried to make a comeback in the second game, but the Chinese was up to the task and she wrapped up the match quite comprehensively.

The world number nine Saina has had a troubled run in this year as she has now faced exits from a tournament in the first round five times.

Earlier this year, Cai Yan Yan had knocked out Saina in the first round of the China Open.

In the men’s singles, Indian shuttler Sameer Verma was knocked out after losing to Taiwan's Wang Tzu Wei 11-21, 21-13, 8-21 in a first round match.

In the 54-minute long encounter, Verma outclassed his opponent in the second game after losing the first. However, Wang won the third game and made it to the next round.

Later in the day, BWF World Championships gold medallist PV Sindhu would be in action as she would face South Korea's Kim Ga Eun.

(With inputs from ANI)