Badminton Asia Championships: Saina Nehwal off to a winning start

Saina Nehwal had a victorious beginning at the Badminton Asia Championship

World No.1 Saina Nehwal made a victorious start to her Badminton Asia Championships campaign on Thursday, beating Nozomi Okuhara of Japan 21-14 10-21 21-10 in the third round to progress through to the next round.

After having given a bye in the opening 2 rounds, the 25-year-old began her third round clash on a positive note, winning 6 consecutive points as compared top her opponent's 4 and clinching the first game eventually 21-14.

Okuhara, though came back strongly in the next game, winning it 21-10 and thereby taking the match to a third and final game.

In the decider, Saina made a terrific comeback into the contest, winning as many as 9 points on the trot as compared to Okuhara’s 3 and sealed the game and the match 21-10.

Saina’s win follows the victory of PV Sindhu, who earlier on today also won her third round match against Teng Luk U of Macau 21-8 21-9.

She will now face Tzu Ying Tai of Taiwan in the quarters.