Three-time champion Saina Nehwal staved off a challenge from a lower-ranked Pai Yu Po of Chinese Taipei to make a positive start to her women's singles campaign at the $900,000 Indonesia Super Series Premier badminton tournament here on Tuesday.
Eighth seed Saina recovered from a mid-game slump to register a 21-11, 19-21, 21-15 win over World No 23 Pai Yu Po in a match that lasted an hour and three minutes at the Istora Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. World No. 8 Saina will next take on Indonesian Fitriani Fitriani on Wednesday.
However, Indian mixed doubles pair of Manu Attri and Ashwini Ponnappa fought hard before going down 14-21, 25-27 to Singapore combo of Yong Kai Terry Hee and Wei Han Tan in a 30-minute match.
Saina had won the Indonesia Open title in 2009, 2010 and 2012.