World Badminton Championships 2017: Saina Nehwal vs Nozomi Okuhara, Live Score and updates: Nehwal loses 21-12, 17-21, 10-21

But we can still dream about the gold because PV Sindhu will be in action in the other semi-final. That is scheduled to be around 12.30am IST.

Let us hope Sindhu can bring a smile at the end of the day.

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda for all the latest updates from the 2017 World Championships.

What a physical match that was!

Full credit to Nozomi Okuhara for believing in herself and coming back even when Saina clearly had the upper hand. She was able to impose her physical game punctuated by those low shots at the net that took the game away from the Indian. She thus becomes the first Japanese to make it through to the women's singles final at the World Championships.

But what an effort from the Indian....one year ago, she endured major disappointment at the Rio Games and she has recently even admitted that she regrets going to the Olympics....it followed a painful few weeks of surgery, rehab and trying to get back to the Tour.

The performance she showed today despite the loss should stop all her critics. Saina is VERY MUCH on the way back.

Final score: Okuhara wins 12-21, 21-17, 21-10 in 74 minutes

Okuhara finds the corner.... She wins 21-10

Great crosscourt slice from Saina....10-20

Okuhara gets 11 match points...20-9

Wide again from Saina....9-19

Saina gets one point back as confirmed by Hawkeye....9-18

18-7 now

Wide again for Nehwal.....17-7 for Okuhara

This is slipping away from Nehwal's grip now

16-7 now

15-7 for Okuhara

Saina struggling with the low drops at the net

Look at those backhand drops from Nozomi.....14-7

13-6 now

13-5 for the Japanese now

Saina finds the corner....5-12

Saina pretty much playing on Okuhara's terms....12-4 now after a 39-shot rally

11-4 for the Japanese at halftime

Smash from Saina....4-10

Lots of errors from the Indian now....3-10

The body language is not looking very positive

Out again for Saina....3-8

6 straight points for the Japanese

Saina looking slightly tired now.....missed the line again.....3-7

It has become even more physical.....just listen to Saina's grunts

Okuhara dictating the rally now....6-3

Nozomi finds open court to take a 4-3 lead

Back to level....3-3

Shuttle stays on Saina's side at the net.....3-2

3-1 for the Indian after a gruelling rally

Nehwal takes the lead....2-1

THIRD GAME

1-1

This has been such a bruising, gruelling match...test of physicality for both

What a crosscourt slice by Nozomi.....she takes the second game, 21-17

Saina mistimes a smash....17-20

Magnificent drop by Okuhara on the tramline.....19-17

Rush to the net by Okuhara and it is 18-17

Burst of speed and power from Saina....17-17

Lands in the corner from Okuhara.... 17-16

Costly service error from Okuhara...16-16

16-15 for Nozomi

Wide goes the shuttle from the Japanese... 15-15

Okuhara still up 15-14

Once more Okuhara fails to retrieve an around-the-head shot directed at her backhand

15-12 for Okuhara

Okuhara is attacking the forecourt a lot but she misses the net here for 14-12

The Japanese is still ahead at 14-11

13-10 for the Japanese