Saina reaches final of Daihatsu Indonesia Masters 2019

Speed Post News Network

Patna : World No 9 in Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings and 2012 London Olympic Bronze Medallist Saina Nehwal, 28, beat World No 7 HE Bingjiao, 21, China, in a see-saw battle in the semi-finals to reach the final of Daihatsu Indonesia Masters 2019 on January 26, 2019. It was the first meeting between the two players.

Padma Bhusan Saina beat HE Bingjiao in a three-game thriller 18-21, 21-12, 21-18 in the semi-finals at Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia, in 58 minutes to book a berth in the final. The third game alone took 26 minutes with points going back and forth with lead changing hand.

Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Saina lost the first game but came back strongly to take the second game. In the third game too, Saina had taken an early lead and was leading 10-6 when Bingjiao reeled off 5 consecutive points to take a lead. Soon, it was 15 all. After, that Saina took 4 points to lead 19-15 and finally took the game 21-18. Saina won 60 rallies in the match to 51 by Bingjiao. Saina won 9 consecutive points to 6 by her rival. Saina had also reached semi-finals of BWF Malaysia Masters 2019 recently and has won 23 career titles.