Saina Nehwal crashes out of Rio Olympics

Saina Nehwal in action against Ukraine’s Maria Ulitina in their women’s singles Group G match at the Rio Games on Sunday. Saina lost 18-21, 19-21.(Photo: AFP)

Kidambi Srikanth and P.V. Sindhu lifted some gloom from India’s sagging badminton campaign as they reached the pre-quarter-finals after biggest medal hope Saina Nehwal crashed out of the women’s singles event at the Rio Olympics here on Sunday.

Srikanth defeated Sweden’s Henri Hurskainen 21-6, 21-18 in his second Group H match that lasted 34 minutes here.

Later, Sindhu pulled off a 19-21, 21-15, 21-17 win over Glasgow Common-wealth Games champion Li Michelle in a gruelling 72-minute match, for her second victory in Pool M.

Earlier, in one of the biggest upsets for the Indian contingent, Saina suffered an upset straight-game loss agai-nst lower-ranked Maria Ulitina of Ukraine in her second Group G match.

The London Olympics bronze medallist and world no. 5 lost 18-21, 19-21 to world no. 61 Maria in a match that lasted 39 minutes.

The Indian star, a former world no. 1, had won the opening match against Brazil’s Vicente Lohaynny on August 11.

Maria, who had beaten Vicente in the opening match, reached the knockout stage from Group G at the expense of Saina and the Brazilian girl.

Saina looked totally rusty as she squandered an initial 6-1 lead to allow Maria level the scores at 8-8 with the Indian burying the shuttle in the net.

The Ukraine player posed a lot of questions as Saina missed a few shots in the forecourt and back. The Indian, however, managed to enter the short break 11-9 in front with a drop which Maria could not return from the forecourt.

Maria caught up again at 13-13 when Saina hit long. She infact took a slender lead at 16-15 and 17-16 as Saina struggled with her movements. With Saina continuing to be sluggish, Maria reached 19-17 and then reached game point with a cross court round-the-head smash which caught Saina napping. The Indian then hit wide to allow Maria take bragging rights after clinching the opening game.

In the second game, Maria used her height to good use as she played some sharp and stiff smashes and half smashes which Saina failed to negotiate.

Maria dominated the pace of the rallies even as Saina seemed restricted in her movement as the Ukraine player led 14-13.

The script didn’t change much after that as Maria managed to reach match point with a cross court smash and then entered the knock-out pre-quarterfinal round with a lucky net chord.

After her exit, Saina blamed an inflammation in her right knee as the reason which hampered her on-court movement.

“I had a knee pain and could not give my best. It was heavily strapped, and I tried my best. My movements were not smooth and were painful. It’s a heartbreaking loss,’ Saina said.

According to Saina, she suffered the injury during training before the Olympics.