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In a massive blow to India’s chances at the Japan Open Super Series, Saina Nehwal was knocked out of the competition in straight games. World No. 18 Minatsu Mitani beat the Indian 21-13 21-16 in the second round on Thursday.
The opening game saw the Indian take an early 3-1 lead before the Japanese started to slowly claw her way back into the contest to equal the score at 7-7. The underdog then took the lead to eventually head into the break with an 11-8 lead.
She continued to have the upper hand after the interval, even as Saina tried to peg her back and won the opening game 21-16 to take a decisive lead in the contest.
The second game saw the Indian get off to a flying start as she raced away to a 6-0 lead, but that is when Mitani put the breaks on Saina’s run. The 24-year-old began to chip away at Saina’s lead and found her way back into the match, pegging the Indian back regularly even as the numero uno ranked player in the world led 11-6 at the break.
It was after the break though that Saina began to lose her grip over proceedings as Mitani, first won 5 points consecutively to make it 10-11 and the eventually took the lead after the two were tied at 14-14. She, then, managed to hold on to that lead despite Saina’s best efforts and managed to seal the game at 21-16 to eliminate the Indian from the competition.
This will certainly come as a big blow for the Indian, keeping in mind the fine year that she has had so far and it also brings an end to the women’s singles challenge for India at the tournament after PV Sindhu lost to the same opponent yesterday. Sindhu managed to take the Japanese to three sets but was unable to set up a second round clash with Saina after losing 13-21 21-17 11-21.
On a disappointing opening day for the Indians, India’s top doubles pair in women’s badminton, Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa also exited the competition in the first round. The pair lost 20-22 21-18 13-21 to the Chinese pair of Zhao Yunlei and Zhong Qianxin in a little less than an hour.
Pradnya Gadre and N Sikki Reddy also lost yesterday, while Ajay Jayaram was shown the exit door by Dane Viktor Axelson.
Final Scoreline - Minatsu Mitani beat Saina Nehwal 21-13 21-16
