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Match details
Fixture: Saina Nehwal vs Aya Ohori
Tournament: Singapore Open 2022
Date: July 15, 2022
Round: Quarterfinals
Venue: Singapore
Category: HSBC BWF World Tour Super 500
Match timing: Approx. 2.30 pm local time, 12 noon IST
Prize money: $370,000
TV Channel: Sports18 - 1, Sports18 - 1 HD
Live streaming: BWF TV
Saina Nehwal vs Aya Ohori preview
Former champion Saina Nehwal faces World No. 30 Aya Ohori in the quarter-finals of the 2022 Singapore Open on Friday.
The 32-year-old Nehwal rolled back the years with her upset of World No. 9 He Bing Jiao in the second round on Thursday.
Her fighting 21-19, 11-21, 21-17 win over the fifth-seeded Chinese secured her a quarterfinal berth at a Super 500 event for the first time in over two and a half years.
Frequent injuries and loss of consistency have robbed the London Olympic bronze medalist of a chance to make deep runs in tournaments over the past few years.
The Indian legend couldn't even appear for the trials of the Commonwealth Games, where she is the defending women's singles champion.
Nehwal's victory over He Bing Jiao was thus needed to reassure herself as well as her fans that she is still very much in the game.
Buoyed by the big win, the former World No. 1 will hope to turn the tables on her next opponent, Aya Ohori. The 25-year-old former junior Asian champion hasn't had a season to remember so far.
With two wins at the Singapore Open this week, the Japanese has made it to the last eight for the first time in six tournaments this season. Following a tight 20-22, 21-18, 21-4 win over Sung Shuo Yun in the opening round, she thrashed Thet Htar Thuzar 21-10, 21-12 on Thursday.
Having beaten Nehwal in the past, Ohori will be keen to continue her mastery over the Indian.
Saina Nehwal vs Aya Ohori head-to-head
Ohori has a 1-0 lead over Nehwal in their head-to-head, having secured a 21-16, 21-14 win over the Indian in their only meeting so far at the 2021 Denmark Open.
Saina Nehwal vs Aya Ohori prediction
The challenge for Nehwal will now be to get back to business after the emotional high of her huge win over Bing Jiao. She looks fitter and hungrier this week and will be eager to make the most of the opportunities coming her way.
Nehwal showed some tremendous aggression on the crucial points to put pressure on the Chinese and needs to come up with such an approach again.
The 32-year-old definitely got a big boost in confidence with her first top-10 win in two years and will be keen to settle scores with Ohori, who hasn't been at her best all season.
Pick: Saina Nehwal to win in three games.
