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

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.