Letshanaa, Ling Ching bow out in Kumamoto

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's women's singles challenge at the Kumamoto Masters Japan ended in the opening round after K. Letshanaa and Wong Ling Ching suffered defeats on Wednesday.

Letshanaa battled for 90 minutes before going down 21-18, 18-21, 21-12 to Japan's Natsuki Nidaira in the Super 500 tournament.

Ling Ching also put up a fight against Thailand's sixth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong, taking the opening game before losing 17-21, 21-4, 21-13 in 56 minutes.