Saina crashes out of World championship
SETTLE FOR BRONZE Saina Nehwal exits the World Championship in semis after losing to Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara
Saina Nehwal on Saturday settled for a bronze medal as her impressive run at the World Championship came to an end after a heart-breaking loss against Rio Olympics bronze medallist Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in the women’s singles semifinals here.
Saina, who had won a silver medal two years ago at Jakarta, gave everything in a battle of attrition but Okuhara’s neversay-die attitude helped her to outmanoeuvre the Indian in an energy-sapping semifinal clash at the Emirates Arena.
After battling for an hour and 14 minutes, it was the World No. 12 Japanese who managed to eke out a come-from- behind 12-21 21-17 21-10 win over the Indian to become the first shuttler from her country to reach the finals of World Championship.
It turned out to be a battle of attrition between Saina and Okuhara.
The two players have met seven times so far in international badminton with Saina having an upper hand in six of those battles.
The Indian tried to put her rival out of position with her deceptive returns and it helped as she led 9-3 in the opening game, before entering the interval at 11-5 when Okuhara could not return her angled smash and found the net.
Okuhara’s fast-paced game did not yield much result early on as Saina fortified her defence and continued to dominate the rallies to lead 17-10. Okuhara lost a video referral next as Saina led 18-10. The Japanese displayed a good net game to grab two points but Saina’s small deception took a toil on her rival.
Another electrifying rally ended with Okuhara finding the net as Saina reached eight game points. The Indian then unleashed a body smash to close out the opening game.
However, Okuhara managed to grab a slender 11-10 lead with a cross court net flick which Saina failed to negotiate.
After the break, Okuhara seemed to vary the pace and Saina too faltered with a forehand and backhand return which helped the Japanese take a 14-11 lead.
Saina produced a down-theline smash to level par, while Okuhara unleashed an onrushing backhand flick to lead 18-17 and then an overhead return took her to 19-17.
In the decider, Saina grabbed an early 3-1 lead but Okuhara soon started dominating the rallies. It resulted in five straight points and the Japanese took a 6-3 lead.
Two wide shots and a low lift getting buried at net from Saina ensured that Nozomi Okuhara continued to gather points, reaching 10- 3.
SAINA, WHO HAD WON A SILVER MEDAL AT JAKARTA, GAVE EVERYTHING IN A BATTLE BUT OKUHARA’S NEVERSAYDIE ATTITUDE HELPED HER TO OUTMANOEUVRE.