New Delhi: Saina Nehwal started her campaign in the Asian Junior Badminton Championship with a victory over Guerrero Raquel of Philippines in the second round singles event in Kuala Lumpur.

Saina, seeded second, scored a convincing 21-2, 21-8 win over Raquel to move into the third round where she meets China’s Wen Cheng. Saina, who rose to stardom after a historic Philippines Open win last month, had got a bye in the first round.

In the boys’ singles, only Akshay Dewalkar managed to get past the first round hurdle.

Dewalkar carved out a 21-12, 21-8 win over Pererra Thilan Sepalage of Sri Lanka and will next meet China’s Lu Qiching.

In boys’ doubles, Jishnu Sanyal and Dewalkar moved to the third round after beating Rajitha Dahanagake and Muwan Hettiarachchi of Sri Lanka 21-12, 21-9, while Vijay Ram and Arun Vishnu went down 21-7, 21-12 to the Chinese duo of Liu Yialong and Zhang Yung Dong.

Other results ? Boys’, round II: Wan Choi bt Srujan Nandaluri 22-20, 21-14; Sigit Bandar Pammunkgas bt Arun Nadaluri 21-19, 18-21, 21-10; Girls’, round II: Ruth Misa bt Siti Nor Askhin 21-16, 20-22, 21-15; Gayatri Vartak bt Thi Huang 15-21, 21-13, 21-15; Oku Yukina bt Nischita 21-15, 21-11. (PTI)