Saina Nehwal vs Sayaka Sato Live Score and Commentary Badminton Asia Championships First Round

Sato wins 19-21, 21-16, 21-18

Updated: 26 April 2017 11:28 IST - Published: April, 26 2017 09:50 AM IST

That was disappointing no doubt after Saina managed to eke out the first game. It is evident that the Indian still needs a bit more time to be able to return to top form.

Final score: Sato wins 19-21, 21-16, 21-18.

And Sayaka Sato defeats Saina Nehwal for the first time since 2011.

2 MATCH POINTS as Sato leads 20-18

Another point as Saina makes it 18-19

17-19 as the Indian takes a point

16-19...now or never for Saina!

15-18 now

Saina now trails 14-17.

14-15 now

Saina trails 13-15 now.

4-point lead for the Japanese at 15-11....will she complete a famous victory?

Sato still leads 12-10 after the break.

Sato is up 11-9 at the mid-game interval.

Sato ends Saina's six-point winning streak to go up to 10-9

And....9-9...the fighter in Saina has WOKEN UP!!

It's 8-9...Saina trailing by just 1 point!

4 consecutive points for Saina to make it 7-9.

2 points for Saina to make it 5-9

Time running out for Nehwal!

9-3

The Japanese is looking more and more confident now....up now 8-3

Sato jumps ahead to 5-3

3-3 now as none giving the other an inch of space.

Can Saina turn this around?

THIRD GAME

1-1 currently

Sato takes the second game 21-16

18-13 for the Japanese now.

She makes it 16-10 now

Sato still very much in control...15-10 now

It's a 4-point gap now as Saina makes it 8-12.

Long way to go for Saina now.

Sato goes up 11-6 at the break.

9-5 for Sato as Saina takes a point.

Is Saina feeling tired after that long first game?

Now the Japanese is looking very confident as she races ahead to 8-4

Tight and competitive game currently....the Japanese leads Saina 5-4.

SECOND GAME

Sato has taken a slender lead of 2-1 now.

Sato made it a solitary point gap at 19-20 before Saina closed out the first game at 21-19

20-17

4 game points for Saina at 20-16.

19-15 now

19-14 for the Indian.

It's 18-13 for Saina, who is looking very much in control of the proceedings now.

Saina is slowly and steadily asserting herself. She has separated herself from Sato and now leads 15-11.

2 superb points from the Indian right when it mattered the most. Saina has an 11-9 lead at half-time.

9-9 currently.

Brilliant defensive skills shown by both.

The points are getting longer and longer. From 7-7, Sato has broken away to inch ahead to 9-8

The Indian is now up 7-6.

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