Saina Loses to Wang Yihan, Crashes Out of Asia Badminton C’ship

Saina Nehwal crashed out of the Asia Badminton Championships after losing to Wang Yihan in the semi-final.

File photo of Saina Nehwal. (Photo: Reuters)

India’s badminton star, Saina Nehwal crashed out of the Asia badminton Championships after losing to Yihan Wang in the semifinal at Wuhan, China on Saturday.

The 26-year-old Indian failed to match the sharp play from Yihan as she went down 16-21, 14-21 in 41 minutes at the Wuhan Sports Center.

This loss was the 2015 World Championship runner-up’s 11th in 15 meetings against the 2011 world champion and 2012 silver medallist.

Even though the world number eight Indian started on a decent note, making it 9-6 before the world number six Chinese equalised 10-all. Then Yihan upped the ante with a dominant performance. Four points at a stretch meant it was 14-10 and after Saina took a point, another two quick points for Yihan made it 16-11.

Thereafter, Yihan piled further pressure on the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist before taking the game 21-16.

In the second game, 28-year-old Yihan made her intentions very clear from the beginning. Taking cue from the way she finished the first game, she combined stamina, power, deception and quick feet to hold a 11-4 lead at the break. And it soon became 13-4 after which Saina took three consecutive points to make it 7-13.

Yihan then added more sharpness to her game as she took five points at a stretch to put herself on the verge of the entry to final. Then Saina took couple of points but Yihan gained two more points to reach match-point.

Then Saina delayed Yihan’s celebration for a bit, she took five points on the trot. But it was only about time and the Chinese closed the door on the Indian’s yet another shot at the elusive Asian crown.

Sunday’s final pits Yihan against her famed compatriot, the reigning Olympic champion Li Xuerui, who moved past South Korean seventh seed Sung Ji Hyun 22-20, 21-11 in 40 minutes.

Both Yihan and Xuerui have won nine games against each other and will be vying to earn their third Asian title.