China Open 2018 LIVE: Satwik-Ashwini, Kidambi cruised into the second round

The Outstanding Indian Mixed Doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy has always been one of the most promising shuttlers for the nation. The duo started off their campaign at the China Open after beating the world no 12 Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith's pair in the inaugural round of the tournament.

The Indian shuttlers foiled their nemesis with a three-game match with a 21-13, 20-22, and 21-17 scoreline in 90 minutes.

Since the genesis of the match, the Indian was extremely good at the court. The Mixed Doubles pair has an experienced shuttler Ashwini who is terrific at the net play and a great defensive player. On the other hand, along wtih the young and dynamic Satwiksairaj who is brilliant when it comes to playing in the backcourt with his powerful smashes. His big personality helps him to keep up with the excellent work. Satwik played multiple jump smashes in the opening game and won it easily.

However, the British pair was great at the second game where they snatched the lead from the Indian pair and were firmed at 11-6 before the break. Despite the good performance from the Indian pair, the British duo leveled up their game and managed to get four more points in the second game. The pair of Satwik-Ashwini also climbed up and the score was leveled again at 20-20. But Ellis and Smith got two more points and won the game that takes both the pairs to hustle at the decider match.

In the decider game, the Indian Pair managed to bring back their sparkle that was missing during the first half of the second game and were on a good lead over their nemesis pair and effortlessly won the decider game of the match.

Although they played well and won the match, the Indian pair has to bite the bullet in the second round against the World No 1 pair of China; Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong. The Chinese Pair also thwarted their Malaysian opponents in their inaugural match. The Malaysian Mixed Doubles pair of Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying lost the match by 18-21, 17-21.

The brilliant Indian players, Satwik and Ashwini were also involved in their respective categories of Men's and Women's Doubles; however, the pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chiraj Shetty lost in the inaugural match to the Malaysian duo of Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong with 19-21, 20-21.

The pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy also lost to the South Korean duo by 10-21, 18-21 in the initial round of the Women's Doubles.

In the Men's Singles, Srikanth Kidambi won the opening match by defeating Denmark's Rasmus Gemke with 21-9, 21-19. On the other hand, HS Prannoy lost the match to Hong Kong's Ng Ka Long Angus by 16-21, 12-21.

In the Women's Singles, Saina Nehwal lost after a tough fight against Sung Ji-Hyun of South Korea with 20-22, 21-8, 21-14. On the other hand, PV Sindhu won the first round as she thwarted Saena Kawakami of Japan by 21-15, 21-13. In the second round, she will hustle against Thailand's Busanan ONGBAMRUNGPHAN.