All Singaporeans out of All-England in first round

SINGAPORE'S campaign at the Yonex All-England badminton championships ended after Ronald Susilo was shown the door in the first round by China's Bao Chunlai.

The world No 5 defeated Susilo 18-21, 21-15, 23-21 on Wednesday evening.

Singapore's top player felt the match had been close but he had been the victim of bad luck.

'I was actually leading the last game 20-19 but then I caught the shuttle with the edge of my racket and it went into the net.

'Bao then scored the next point and, even though I managed to level at 21-21, he pulled away to win.

'At this level, sometimes you need a bit of luck. It was a good match.'

Susilo's exit marked the end of Singapore's challenge at the tournament.

Earlier, Kendrick Lee had succumbed to Japan's Shoji Sato 12-21, 14-21.

Li Li and Xing Aiying also bowed out in the first round of the women's singles, while none of the Republic's doubles pairings progressed.

Nonetheless, Singapore Badminton Association acting chief executive Jacqueline Lim was encouraged by the players' performances.

She said: 'There were some close matches and we are pushing the top players from countries like China.

'We are aiming to peak for May's Aviva Open Singapore, which is our home event and a key target for us.'

The shuttlers will compete in the Swiss Open next week before returning home.

Meanwhile, former champion Peter Gade was the highest profile casualty on Wednesday.

The fourth-seeded Dane was beaten 15-21, 21-19, 21-19 by Dicky Palyama.

Gade saved four match points in a row and was denied the chance to save a fifth by a debatable line decision.

It happened after he had forced a defensive lift from his Dutch opponent.

The shuttlecock appeared to land two or three inches out, only for a line judge to indicate the shuttle was in.

Gade looked staggered, and Palyama looked a little surprised momentarily.

He then hurled his racket across the floor and celebrated his first win over the former world No 1.

Gade's demise may help China's Lin Dan, the top-seeded title-holder who is in the same half.

He beat Malaysia's Muhammad Roslin Hashim 24-22, 16-21, 21-9 to advance.

AGENCE-FRANCE PRESSE