India’s Saina Nehwal was eliminated from the All England Open after going down 20-22, 20-22 to World No 3 Ji Hyun Sung of South Korea in the quarter-finals on Friday in Birmingham. This marks the end of India’s challenge in the tournament.
In an exciting first game, Saina Nehwal, ranked ninth in the world, enjoyed clear leads of 11-7 and 17-13 before allowing her opponent back into the match. Sung levelled scores with Nehwal and then from 13-17, won seven points on the trot to take herself to 20-17. Just when it seemed as if she would breeze to victory in the first game, Nehwal found her mojo to claw back but Sung held on to take the first game 22-20.
The second game was as closely competed. Nehwal went into the break with a lead of 11-9 but Sung soon caught up with her and soon overtook her at one point, leading 16-14 and then holding to make it 18-15. Nehwal grimly held on to keep the score at 17-19 and then, trailing 17-20, played some of her best badminton under pressure to take the game to 20-20. But in a repeat of the first game, Sung held her nerve to take the last two points and win the match.
Earlier, Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu was also eliminated at the quarter-final stage after going down to World No 1 Tai Tzu Ying 14-21, 10-21.
