Saina exits India Open

New Delhi,  Defending champion Saina Nehwal played out her skin before going down narrowly to Olympics Champion Li Xuerui in the hard-fought women’s singles semifinal of the India Open Super Series badminton tournament.
The 26-year-old lost 20-22, 21-17, 19-21 to China’s Li in an edge-of-the-seat thriller in the women’s singles competition to draw curtains on Indian challenge at the Siri Fort Complex here. It was her 11th lose to the Chinese in 13 meetings.
In a nail-biting contest, Saina matched up to Li in the fast-paced rallies but was not consistent in finishing the rallies. Li, on the other hand, blew hot and cold as some of her crosscourt half smashes caught Saina off guard but she also faltered with many strokes. In the end. it was a couple of accurate strokes which sealed the match for the Chinese in the decider. Leading 19-18 in the decider, Saina’s return went long to help Li make it 19-19 and then the Chinese came with a line-kissing slice to grab one match point, which she sealed when Saina failed to negotiate a serve. Soon after the loss a disappointed
Among others, it was a heartbreak for China’s Xue Song, who was stretchered off the court after suffering a ligament tear on his right leg during the semifinal match against Japan’s Kento Momota. The Chinese shuttler was leading 21-17 6-3 against the second seed Kento when he hurt himself while returning a shuttle. Kento will now take on Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, who beat Son Wan Ho of Korea 21-11, 21-11.
In another women’s singles match, Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon defeated Bae Yeon Ju of Korea 21-8, 21-11.

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