Saina bows out in semis of Asian C’ship

It was yet another semifinal finish for the World No. 8 Indian, having made it to the final four in the Swiss Grand Prix Gold, India Super Series and Malaysia Super Series Premier Open earlier in the year.

Saina was leading 3-0 in the beginning and despite a challenge from Wang, she managed to hang on to a 9-6 lead before the Chinese turned the tables and marched ahead after the interval, and then never looked back.

The Indian challenge ended at the Asian Badminton Championship after Saina Nehwal suffered a straight-game defeat against local favourite Yihan Wang in the semifinal of the women’s singles, here on Saturday.

Olympic bronze medallist Saina lost 16-21, 14-21 to sixth seed Wang in a 41-minute match to register her 11th defeat against the Chinese.

It was yet another semifinal finish for the World No. 8 Indian, having made it to the final four in the Swiss Grand Prix Gold, India Super Series and Malaysia Super Series Premier Open earlier in the year.

Saina was leading 3-0 in the beginning and despite a challenge from Wang, she managed to hang on to a 9-6 lead before the Chinese turned the tables and marched ahead after the interval, and then never looked back.

In the second game, Wang dished out a dominating performance as she opened up a 5-0 lead and continued to surge ahead even as Saina’s game crumbled.

This was the last tournament before the Olympic qualification deadline of May 3.