Saina Nehwal enters French Open badminton semi-final
Paris, Oct 27: India's badminton sensation Saina Nehwal entered the French Open Super Series championship semifinal on Friday night beating Ratchanok Inthanon of Thailand 22-20, 22-20 in a 41-minute-long encounter. Saina, who won the bronze
Paris, Oct 27: India's badminton sensation Saina Nehwal entered the French Open Super Series championship semifinal on Friday night beating Ratchanok Inthanon of Thailand 22-20, 22-20 in a 41-minute-long encounter.
Saina, who won the bronze medal in badminton for India at the London Olympics, defeated three-time world junior champion Ratchanok Inthanon, though the latter put up a spirited challenge.
Saina took a 11-7 lead in the first game but Ratchanok counterattacked.
The Thai player even staved off a game point and threatened to spoil Saina's game-plan by picking three points in-a-row to make level the scores at 20-all. But Saina forced the opponent into an erratic return and came up with a big smash to clinch the first game 22-20.
In the second game too, Saina was off to a decent start leading 4-0, but the Thai opponent fought back and countered with a lead of 11-8 at one stage.
Saina then levelled the score and later wrapped up the game 22-20.
Saina has moved another step closer to winning her third straight Super Series title this year.
Saina, who won the bronze medal in badminton for India at the London Olympics, defeated three-time world junior champion Ratchanok Inthanon, though the latter put up a spirited challenge.
Saina took a 11-7 lead in the first game but Ratchanok counterattacked.
The Thai player even staved off a game point and threatened to spoil Saina's game-plan by picking three points in-a-row to make level the scores at 20-all. But Saina forced the opponent into an erratic return and came up with a big smash to clinch the first game 22-20.
In the second game too, Saina was off to a decent start leading 4-0, but the Thai opponent fought back and countered with a lead of 11-8 at one stage.
Saina then levelled the score and later wrapped up the game 22-20.
Saina has moved another step closer to winning her third straight Super Series title this year.