Saina wins bronze after injured Wang pulls out

World no 2 Xin Wang of China concedes match due to knee injury after winning first game.

India got its third medal at the London Olympics,albeit in highly fortuitous circumstances,as Wang Xin of China,despite leading 21-18 1-0,conceded the match to Saina Nehwal in the womens singles bronze medal play-off,after suffering an knee injury.

Saina,seeded four,had earlier started the game against the World No. 2 strongly,taking a 5-2 lead before Xin powered ahead with a number of deft cross-court smashes. Saina,in contrast to her semifinal appearance against World No. 1 Wang Yihan,stayed in the hunt even as Xin raced to a 20-14 lead.

She saved four game points in a row before at 20-18,Xin,who enjoyed a 4-2 record against the Indian,twisted her right knee as she leapt for an acrobatic smash from the back of the court.

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Xin initially appeared to have shrugged off the injury. After wrapping her left knee in bandage she immediately attacked Sainas serve and took the first game. She took the first point of the second game,once again attacking Sainas serve,but as she winced in pain,it was clear that she was in no position to continue. As she conceded the game,Saina sportingly offered no overt celebrations.

Saina thus became the first Indian badminton player to win a medal at the Olympics.