Good start for Saina Nehwal. Up 3-0 courtesy that wide hit from Wang Shixian.
Wang has reduced the lead to 1.
Saina wins yet another point, courtesy that down-the-line shot . Up 4-2.
Wang cut the lead once again with two straight points but Saina back in front with a 7-4 lead. Shrieks of “Come On” from the Indian.
Saina has looked good on both the front as well as the back end of the court. Leads 7-6.
It is 7-7 now. Wang with that lovely cross-court drop shot.
With yet another superb drop shot, Wang is in front now.
Saina makes it 8-8 with a hard smash aimed right at the body. This has been an intense start to this match from both players.
After a good rally, Saina was unable to reach to that shot net the net and trails 8-10 in the opening game.
Super work from the Indian on that occasion. Brought the cross-court drop shot right ion the nick of time.
Its 10-10 now. This is some good work from the Indian, who seems to be in good control of the rallies and her movements near the net have been good so far.
At the interval in the opening game, it is Saina, who leads 11-10.
Yet another error at the net from Wang gives Saina the first point after the break. Leads 12-10
Wang has challenged that call. But replays show that the shuttle is out. Yet another point for Saina.
Wang making some unusual errors at the net. Saina gaining some valuable points courtesy that.
FINALLY!! Wang wins the first points after the break. Trails 11-15.
The body shot to the rescue! Wang is certainly under pressure here.
The deficit has been reduced to 2. It is 13-15 in favor of the Indian.
Wang making a lot of errors here and Saina gaining some key points. An opening game win would be a huge psychological boost for the Indian.
The Chinese is making a good fight out of this opening game. The leads is reduced to one. Key phase in the game.
Wide again from Wang. Vital point for Saina.
The Indian is two points away from taking the opening game. The advantage could be huge in the context of the match.
4 game point opportunities for the Indian.
That’s the game. Saina Nehwal takes the opening game 21-16.
The Indian has looked good in the match so far. Looking assured at both ends of the net and managing the rallies well as well.
This is a very promising start for the Indian in the second game. She leads 2-0.
Wang wins her 1st point of the game. Its 1-3.
Superb cross-court from the Indian on that occasion. That was the Saina of the old there. Wang couldn’t reach to it.
Yet another wide hit from the Shaxian. Saina has taken a 5-2 lead and is looking good.
Wide on that occasion from the India. One of the few errors on the night.
Saina has a two-point lead at the moment. Leads 7-5 and this is an important phase in the game
A last minute confusion from the Indian sees her go for the shot , but she stills has the lead.
Another long hit from Wang. It is 9-6 in favour of the Indian.
The lead has been cut to one, thanks to that unforced error from the Indian. It is 9-8.
And it is 9-9 now. Wang has won three points straight.
Wang takes the lead and the pressure is back on the Indian. It is 10-9 in favour of the Chinese.
At the interval mark in the second game, it is Wang Shixian who leads 11-9. Saina needs to gain a few points immediately after the break to gain back some lost momentum.
Another unforced error from the Indian. The errors have started to creep in.
That is now Wang’s 9th straight point. Unbelievable play from the Chinese.
FINALLY!!!! Saina wins her 1st point after the interval.
Two-in-Two. 11-15.
Saina has reduced the gap to 3. 12-15.
Saina bringing her famed mental toughness to the fore here. 5 straight points. 14-15 now.
A fine drop shot from the Chinese and its 14-16 in favour of her.
Its 16-16. What a superb comeback from the Indian.
Wang back in the lead. Its 17-16. What a game this is proving to be.
The Indian’s judgment has been good today. Thats another example. 17-17.
That’s yet another unforced error from Wang Its 18-18.
Saina in the lead. two points away from a win.
What a game this has proven to be. 19-19.
Match point for the India. 20-19.
That's it.. Saina Nehwal wins the second game 21-19 and is through to the semifinals of the Badminton Asia Championships.
Hello and welcome to our Live coverage of the quarterfinal of the 2016 Badminton Asia Championships between India’s Saina Nehwal and China’s Wang Shixian that is slated to start soon at the Wuhan Sports Center in China.
India has had a disappointing outing at the tournament so far, with the lone Men’s Singles contender Kidambi Srikanth getting eliminated in the opening round, after losing a tight three game contest to Lee Dong Keun of Korea on Wednesday. The doubles pairing of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa also lost their first round match to yet another Korean pair of Lee So Hee and Chang Ye Na. Catch all the live updates from what promises to be an intriguing contest right here.
PV Sindhu bowed out of the competition on Thursday, losing yet another hard-fought three-game contest to Tzu Ying Tai of Chinese Taipei, leaving Saina as the only Indian left in the tournament.
Saina has reached the semifinals of the last three tournaments that she has participated in. At the Swiss Open Grand Prix, she suffered a straight games loss at the hands of long-time nemesis Wang Yihan.
At the India Open Superseries, an event where entered as the defending champion, she once again bowed out in the final four stage, losing to Li Xuerui in a tight three-game contest and at the Malaysia Super Series Premier earlier this month, she lost to Tzu Ying Tai, who has dominated the matches the duo have been involved in, in straight games to bow out of the competition.
In the 2015 edition of the Badminton Asia Championships, it was at this very stage that Saina bowed out of the competition, losing to Tzu Ying Tai. Can she go past it this time?
Both players are out on the court. The head-to-head is 7-6 in favour of Wang Shixian.
