Chinese bet boots out Nehwal in first round (July 19,2007)



Chinese Zhu Jingjing produced the worthiest victory in the first day of the 2007 Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton Championships, bundling out defending ladies singles champion Saina Nehwal of India even as two other seeded bets fell by the wayside at the Philsports Arena yesterday.

Zhu dished out a superb all around performance as she surprised the Indian teener with an efficient net game to fashion out a stunning 21-15, 21-13 victory to advance to the last 16, along with Shao Chieh Cheng of Taiwan and Malaysian Pei Xian Julia Wong.

Shao upended fifth seed Li Li of Singapore, while Wong outlasted Tine Rasmussen of Denmark, who got the No. 2 seeding following the last-minute withdrawal of Xu Huaiwen of Germany, Pi Hong Yan of France and Mew Choo Wong of Malaysia, the top three seeds, Tuesday, 12-21, 21-12, 21-19.