Saina Nehwal [Images] and Sayali Gokhale pulled off major upsets, grounding heavyweights Sutheaswari Mudukasan and Ana Rice respectively in the women's singles to give a rousing start to India's campaign in Philippines Open badminton championship.

Chetan Anand, Arvind Bhat, Anup Sridhar, Anand Pawar and P Kashyap also enjoyed a winning start, cruising through to the second round of men's singles draw of the four-star event at Pasig City.

India's top shuttler in women's singles charts, Saina lived to her billing and put it across Malaysia's Mudukasan 21-16 21-19 to book a place in the round of 16.

The 86-ranked Indian starlet took just 28 minutes to pack off the world no. 31 and will next face Japan's [Images] Imai Sachiyo.

But it was another youngster Sayali who pocketed the most surprise victory of the day, stunning Canada's [Images] Ana Rice, world no. 29 and a strong contender for the title, in a three game thriller.

The 19-year-old Indian showed enough promise in thwarting the fifth seed's challenge 16-21 22-20 21-16 in 63 minutes. Gokhale next meets Japan's Ai Goto.

In the men's singles, world no. 24, Chetan Anand beat Jun Takemura of Japan 21-19 21-13 in 25 minutes. Anand will face Ismail Saman in the round of 32.

National Champion Anup Sridhar faced a stiff challenge from Rodel Bartolome of Philippines but prevailed 14-21 21-8 22-20. Sridhar has a tough rival in Lee Yen Hui Kendrick of Singapore in the next round.

Arvind Bhat had no such problems and comfortably went past Chung Wei Pei of Malaysia 22-20 21-17 in 34 minutes. Junio Jamie of Philippines awaits Bhat in the next round.

Anand Pawar also fixed a second round berth beating Arolas Amahit Jr 23-25 21-14 21-8. Pawar faces the formidable Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand, seeded third, in the round of 32.

P Kashyap also enjoyed a comfortable outing against host nation's Alfredo Mailon, getting past 21-13 21-12 and setting up a clash with Beng Hong Kuan.

The Indians who lost their first round singles draw were Ruth Misa and Aditi Mutatkar in women's and Rohan Castelino among men's.

Misa lost 15-21 14-21 to Anita Raj Kaur of Malaysia while Mutatkar lost to a fifth seed Julia Xian Pei Wong 21-13 21-11, also from Malaysia.

Poompat Sapkulchananart of Thailand caused Castelino's exit from the first round with a 21-5 21-14 win in 24 minutes.

India's challenge came to an end in women's doubles on the very first day as Mutatkar and Gokhale lost 8-21 9-21 to Yasuyo Imabeppu and Imai Sachiyo of Japan while Nehwal and Misa went down 17-21 12-21 to Lim Siah Pek and Joanna Swe Ling of Malaysia.

In the men's doubles, Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas have got a bye in the first round and will take on Thailand's Anukritayawan Songpol and Nakatong Nattapon in the round of 16.