Parupalli Kashyap on Wednesday stunned world No 4 Kenichi Tago of Japan 21-11, 21-18 in the first round of men’s singles, while Saina Nehwal registered an easy victory to enter the second round of women’s singles in the French Open Super Series.
However, it was curtains for HS Prannoy and Sourabh Varma, both of whom failed to cross the opening-round hurdle in men’s singles event, after going down to Japan’s Kento Momota and England’s Rajiv Ouseph, respectively.
Kashyap was at his dominating best as he comprehensively defeated his higher ranked opponent in a contest that lasted 34 minutes. In round two, Kashyap will take on China’s Houwei Tian.
Saina, meanwhile, took just 37 minutes to outplay local shuttler Sashina Vignes Wara 21-16, 21-9. Saina will next face Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland.
Earlier, Prannoy gave a tough fight to Momota but went down 11-21, 21-15, 20-22, while Varma was thrashed 10-21, 11-21 in just 30 minutes by Ouseph.