Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu bow out of Denmark Open

Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, K Srikanth lost their quarterfinal matches to bow out of the Denmark Open on Friday. Olympic bronze medal winner Saina, ranked seven in the world, went down to World No. 2 Shixian Wang of China in straight games. Saina, who won the last time the two had met at the Star Australian Open in June, could not replicate that success on Friday, going down 20-22, 15-21 in 45 minutes.

Saina was followed by Sindhu to exit the tournament, losing to Korean World No. 4 Ji Hyun Sung. The two-time World Championship bronze medallist battled gamely against her higher ranked opponent. In the first game she bridged a six-point deficit at 12-6 to go level and then forged ahead by a point. Since then, it was a see-saw battle as the two traded points before the World No. 10 India lost steam at the death. The second game was almost similar, as she again closed a three-point deficit and went ahead only to allow her Korean rival to draw level. Sindhu, who had won all previous three encounters against Sung so far, could not close out the game and crashed out.

Saina, who had a 5-3 record against Wang, had opened up a six-point lead at 16-10 in the first game but could not sustain the momentum. The Chinese girl slowly clawed back and drew level at 20-20 before closing the game. In the second too Saina had the upperhand, taking a five-point lead early on in the game. But yet again she frittered it away to lose 15-21.

In the men’s quarterfinal, Srikanth lost 21-23, 17-21 to Wan Ho Son of Korea, ranked World No. 7, to end his run in the tournament.