The 2016 Rio Olympics has just witnessed one of its biggest upsets as the 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist Saina Nehwal has been knocked out of the competition, losing to Maria Ulitina of Ukraine 21-18 21-19 in the Group G match on Sunday.
Saina began the opening game on a positive note leading 6-1, but the Ukrainian displayed a fearless game not allowing to settle down at any point and troubling her constantly on the cross court. The Indian led 11-10 at the interval in the opening game but following continued to struggle as Ulitina piled on the pressure with a mixture of long hits and drop shots to eventually clinch the opening game 21-18.
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The second game began promisingly again for Saina but Ulitina pegged her back constantly, again targeting the cross court. The Indian led 11-9 at the interval, but the advantage was squandered soon after the break and as much as the Indian tried, she could never really get it back and eventually lost the game 21-19 to crash out of Rio 2016.
The rule is simple: One had to win both their respective group matches in order to progress. Ulitina had beaten Lohaynny Vicente the other member in this group in straight game 21-13 21-13 and by defeating Saina today has progressed through to the Round of 16.
This is now Saina’s worst ever showing at an Olympics, having reached the quarterfinals in Beijing in 2008 and won bronze in London in 2012.
