Badminton Wrap: Saina’s Shocking Loss; Srikanth, Sindhu Advance

Saina Nehwal lost 18-21, 19-21 while PV Sindhu and Srikanth advanced to round of 16.

Saina Nehwal returns a shot to Ukrain’s Maria Ulitina during a Women single match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. (Photo: AP)

India’s dwindling medal hopes in the Olympic Games suffered a severe jolt when star shuttler Saina Nehwal was knocked out at the group stage. Saina, who was carrying a knee injury into the quadrennial sports spectacle, lost to lower ranked rival Maria Ulitina from Ukraine to make a shock exit.

The only bright spots on an otherwise gloomy day, with setbacks coming thick and fast from various quarters, were provided by shuttlers K Srikanth and P V Sindhu who atoned somewhat for Saina’s exit by reaching the pre-quarterfinals from their respective groups in men’s and women’s singles.

Saina Nehwal. (Photo: Reuters)

The biggest talking point on the disastrous day was the shock ouster of world no. 5 Saina, who created history four years ago in London by winning a bronze medal which was the first by an Indian in the sport. She lost 18-21, 19-21 to world no. 61 Ulitina in a match that lasted 39 minutes and later revealed that she played with pain in her knee.

I had a knee pain and could not give my best. It was heavily strapped, and I tried my best. My movements were not smooth and were painful. It’s heartbreaking loss. I also feel very bad about it

Saina Nehwal, Badminton, India

According to the star Indian shuttler, the injury happened during training before the Olympics and it got worse after she reached Rio.

(Photo: AP)

Srikanth, the lone Indian in men’s singles, kept himself in the hunt by reaching the knock-out pre-quarterfinals from Group H by defeating Sweden’s Henri Hurskainen 21-6 21-18 in his second match to make the grade.

India’s PV Sindhu Pusarla returns a shot against Hungary’s Laura Sarosi during a women’s badminton match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. (Photo: AP)

Sindhu later brought some cheer to the dejected Indian camp by making it to the pre quarters of women’s singles from her Group M after getting the better of Michelle Li of Canada 19-21 21-15 21-17.