Indian Open: Neha goes down in pre-quarters

New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) It was a day to forget for the Indian contingent with Neha Pandit, Tarun Kona-Ashwini Ponnappa and Manish Gupta-Gaurav Venkat all losing their pre-quarterfinal matches in the Indian Open badminton 2012 here Thursday.

Pandit was completely outclassed in the women's singles by Singaporean opponent Juan Gu and went down 13-21, 10-21 in just 25 minutes. The first game was a stroll for the Singapore player who led from start to finish.

The Indian tried to put up some fight in the second game. It was close initially with the score tied on 4-4, but Juan surged ahead and made her way to the quarterfinal of the tournament.

Kona and Ponnaappa too were given beating in their mixed doubles tie by Japanese pair Shoji Sato-Shizuka Matsuo. The first game was a breeze for the Japanese as they raced to 21-12. In the second game, the Indian pair put up a good fight. Sato and Matsuo led 8-4, but the Indians came back strongly winning four consecutive points and tying the game at 8-8.

They took the lead at 12-11 but the Japanese pair won seven points in a row to put and end to the Indians' fight and wrapped up the match 21-12, 21-14 in 27 minutes.

The second seeded South Korean men's doubles pair Sung Hyun Ko-Yeon Seong Yoo thrashed Manish Gupta and Gaurav Venkat 21-10, 21-9. The Indian pair were hardly given a chance, and went down in just 19 minutes.