Badminton world number four and top seed Saina Nehwal of India crashed out of the Indian Open Super Series on Wednesday with a shock 21-17, 21-19 first-round defeat to Japan's Ai Goto. Saina, the raging title favourite, looked completely off-colour against her determined opponent and slumped to her knees after Goto slammed in the winning shot at the Siri Fort Complex.
The Indian superstar, 21, had beaten the Japanese in three previous encounters and was tipped to win before a home crowd at the venue where she clinched the Commonwealth Games gold last year.
Goto next takes on compatriot and fifth seed Eriko Hirose who beat Adrianti Firdasari of Indonesia 18-21, 21-8, 21-16.
The 21-year-old ace, who was seeded top in the tournament, has also been troubled by an ankle injury for the past few months.
Earlier in the day, young shuttler Sourabh Verma created another upset when he sent Athens Olympics bronze medallist Sony Dwi Kuncoro packing in straight games in the men's singles first round.
The 20-year-old qualifier beat the former world number three Indonesian 21-18, 21-19 in a hard-fought 41-minute clash.
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