KUALA LUMPUR: National women’s singles shuttler S Kisona kicked off her Hylo Open campaign on a strong note by defeating Bulgaria’s Kaloyana Nalbantova in the first round in Saarbrucken, Germany.
It took the 2019 SEA Games women’s singles champion just 36 minutes to brush aside Nalbantova’s challenge, securing a 21-9, 22-20 win at the Super 500 tournament.
Next up for unseeded Kisona is a clash with Indonesia’s top seed Putri Kusuma Wardani, who defeated Denmark’s Anna Siess Ryberg 21-18, 21-5.
In the mixed doubles, independent pair Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien also advanced to the second round after defeating Brazil’s Fabricio Farias-Jacqueline Lima 21-14, 21-17.
They will next meet Thailand’s sixth-seeded pair Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat, who defeated compatriots Phuwanat Horbanluekit-Benyapa Aimsaard 21-14, 21-13.