Saina enters Swiss Open Grand Prix final

IANS

Basel, 20 March 2011: India’s badminton star Saina Nehwal defeated Bae Youn-Joo of South Korea 21-19, 13-21, 21-14 to storm into the final of the Swiss Open Grand Prix on Saturday. Second-seeded Saina beat the Korean, seeded fourth, in 58 minutes.

 

The first game was close with the Korean gaining early ascendancy, leading 10-4, but Saina fought back and levelled at 15-15. It was neck-and-neck battle from there on and the score read 19-19, but Saina held her nerves and pocketed took two points to take the game.

 

Bae came back strongly in the second game and opened up a 11-3 lead. Saina recovered, but the Korean maintained the lead and drew level.

 

In the decider, Saina showed her class, gaining a 11-4 lead and never looked back. The Korean narrowed down the gap at 15-13, but Saina stepped up and raced ahead to win the match.

 

The Indian will next face the winner of the second semifinal beyween Ji Hyun Sung of Korea and Juliane Schenk of Germany.

 

In the quarterfinal, Saina beat sixth seeded Petya Nedelcheva 22-20, 21-17. She had been in good form in the tournament and took sweet revenge for her All England loss by beating Japanese Eriko Hirose earlier.