Jwala-Ashwini exit from Japan Open

The Indian challenge at the $250,000 Japan Open Super Series came to an early end as the shuttlers lost their respective second round matches here Thursday.

South Korean sixth seeds Kyung Eun Jung and Ha Na Kim took care of the World No.32 pairing of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa in a tough and close 57-minute contest, winning 21-12, 21-23, 21-19. With the victory, the World No.9 pair took a 2-1 lead in career meets over the Indians.

Ashwini also lost her mixed doubles match partnering Tarun Kona to local pair Kenichi Hayakawa and Misaki Matsutomo. The Japanese pair needed only 27 minutes to clinch the match 21-17, 21-11 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

Elsewhere, China's Xin Liu ousted Tanvi Lad from the women's singles by coming out victorious 21-18, 21-12 in 42 minutes while Sourabh Verma lost his men's singles contest to Japanese fourth seed Kenichi Tago 9-21, 6-21 in 33 minutes.