Saina, Sindhu, Sameer bow out

Indian shuttlers failed to match expectations in the Badminton Asia Championships as P V Sindhu and Saina Nehwal were knocked out in the quarterfinals here on Friday.

In men's singles, Sameer Verma too was shown the door in the quarterfinals after he suffered a 10-21, 12-21 loss to second seed Shi Yuqi of China.

Saina put up a tough fight but could not avoid a 13-21, 23-21, 16-21 defeat at the hands of third seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan. The match lasted an hour and nine minutes.

Much was expected from fourth seed Sindhu but she was stunned by the unseeded Cai Yanyan of China 21-19, 21-9 in 31 minutes.

It was Sindhu's maiden loss against Yanyan.