Indonesian Open: Saina advances into second round

13 June, Jakarta

Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal entered the second round of the women’s singles event at the Indonesian Open World Superseries Premier badminton tournament Tuesday, defeating the eighth seeded Thai player, Intanon Ratchanok, in a tough fight.

Unseeded Saina was impressive against Ratchanok and it took her 57 minures to win the match in the second round by 17-21, 21-18, 21-12. Although the Indian player was not good at first and she lost the first game 17-21. But in the second game, she made a good comeback and went ahead with four straight points.

Saina also won a game point in this game. After a 1-1 draw, she performed even better in the third and final game and won six points and won two game points and clinched the match 21-12. Saina and Ratchanok met for the 13th time, in which the world’s 11th Indian player has beaten the Thai player eight times.

Saina will now take on Thailand’s Nitchaon Jindapol. Saina has faced Jindapol seven times before this and has a record seven win streak against the Thai player. Earlier, the Indian pair of B Sumeeth Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa lost in the first round of the mixed doubles event.

The Indonesian pair of Irfan Fadhilah and Weni Anggraini beat the Indian pair 21-12 21-9 in just 29 minutes in consecutive games.