Saina Nehwal goes down fighting

Updated on: 15 August,2009 08:38 AM IST |
Sanjay Sharma | sports@mid-day.com

Indian ace goes down fighting to wang Lin

Indian ace goes down fighting to wang Lin

Teenage badminton sensation Saina Nehwal crashed out of the World Badminton championships on her home turf, losing to the World No 2 Wang Lin of China 16-21, 19-21, in a pulsating 35-minute-encounter yesterday.

The Indian shuttler gave her best but in the end just could not get that crucial point on 18-17 in the second game, when her dribble just tapered off the net and fell on her own side even while her opponent was nowhere near the shuttle.

Difference

Saina said missing on a few crucial points made the difference. "I did my best, but in the end she played better.

Wang Lin said she knew playing Saina on her home turf would be tough. "I had trained a lot for this championships and felt confident.

I knew after seeing the draw that playing Saina in her own backyard will be tough.

She is a fighter. But then today I had the control. I am happy at the outcome. Saina is still young and will go a long way.
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Today however was my day. I think I played a very good mixture of control and attack," said Wang through her interpreter after the game.

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