Two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu was firmly in control, leading 21-11, when reigning world champion Yamaguchi, hampered by a knee injury, informed the chair umpire that she could not continue.
But there were some setbacks too as youngster Akarshi Kashyap, experienced women's doubles pair Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto, World No. 38 pair Rutaparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda and Anupama Upadhyaya lost their first-round matches in the event.
Playing at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok, the Indians beat their 29th-ranked opponents 21-15, 21-15 in 36 minutes.
They lost to the world No. 1 Chinese pair of Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang 21-9, 18-21, 17-21 in the double's final in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
Young Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen faced a setback in the first round, succumbing to a straight-game defeat at the hands of China's Weng Hong Yang in the season-opening match of the Malaysia Open.
Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu couldn't manage to get the winning start in 2023 as she suffered a loss at the hands of familiar foe Rio 2016 champion Carolina Marin of Spain in the opening round of Malaysia Open Super 1000 badminton tournament, here on Wednesday.
After a tight first game, Sindhu failed to put up a fight in the second as she went down 18-21, 7-21 in the 43-minute affair.
India’s Saina Nehwal advanced to the second round, as Sameer Verma and the mixed doubles pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra…
Jayaram went down 18-21 14-21 against fifth seed in a contest that was 37 minutes long.
