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Saina loses semis clash at World Super Series Finals
Saina Nehwal's hopes of winning her maiden World Super Series Finals title in 2012 went up in smoke as she lost her semi-final clash against top seed and current Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China in a three-game encounter.
Indo-Asian News Service
sportsdesk@hindustantimes.com
Shenzhen (China): India's World No.3 shuttler Saina Nehwal ran out of steam in the semifinal against top seed and reigning Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China in the women's singles semifinal of the $500,000 BWF World Super Series Finals here Saturday.
Saina, who started the game in superb fashion, lost to the World No.2 Chinese 20-22, 21-7, 13-21 in 50min in front of a hostile crowd at the China Resources Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre. Li improved her head-to-head to 5-2 against the fourth seed. Saina dominated the first game right from the start taking a 6-0 lead against the London Olympics gold medallist. Li used her deft drops to earn most of her points as Saina remained in third court for most of the first game.
Though the 22-year-old Indian maintained lead throughout the game, Li tried fighting back bringing Saina's lead down to 14-11. Both players were making each other move on the court with defensive games.
Game snatched
Saina then attacked and won six straight points to take a lead of 19-13 which was reduced to 19-16 by Li. Saina then won a deft point to be on game-point (20-16).
But the 21-year-old Chinese came back to win six straight points and take the game away from the jaws of the Indian. The Indian shuttler had reached the final last year where she suffered a heartbreaking loss World No.1 Yihan Wang
The women's singles final will be an all Chinese event as Li will meet compatriot and third seed Shixian Wang, who beat Group B topper Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand 21-12, 21-19.
