My smashes saved me: Saina

Updated on: 11 March,2011 08:42 AM IST |
Agencies |

India's ace shutter Saina Nehwal got past Seung Hee Bae of South Korea 21-13, 21-16 to enter the second round of the women's singles event at the All England Badminton Championships

India's ace shutter Saina Nehwal got past Seung Hee Bae of South Korea 21-13, 21-16 to enter the second round of the women's singles event at the All England Badminton Championships.

World No 5 Saina won the first set comfortably but toiled hard in the second as she faced problems in adjusting to the drift at the National Indoor Arena here yesterday. The Indian next faces Tzu Ying Tai of Chinese Taipei.
"I was making a lot of mistakes initially. I was not able to adjust to the drift which was on either side of the court.

"It was quite unusual to see that because normally it is fast on one side and slow on the other," said Saina after the match.

Admittedly jittery in the opening game, Saina said she gained in confidence as the match progressed, banking mainly on smashes to fetch the winners.

"In the second game, I was quite confident. I took a big lead but then she came back strong. In the end, my smashes helped. They were going good and saved me at that stage," she added.

Saina has an easier draw in the tournament after World No 2 Wang Yihan of China pulled out at the last minute due to injury.

Meanwhile, it was disappointment for India in the other matches. Parupalli Kashyap, Ajay Jayaram and Anand Pawar lost their opening round matches in the men's singles.

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