Saina Nehwal marches into Indonesian Open quarterfinals

India’s Saina Nehwal got the better of Japan Sayaka Takahashi 21-13, 21-19 to advance to the women’s singles quarterfinals of the Djaram Indonesian Open being played in Jakarta.

The world number two started on a sluggish note and trailed 2-4 at one stage as the world number 24 Japanese looked to wrest the early initiative.

Saina digged into her bag of rich experience and lapped up five consecutive points to take control of the proceedings at 9-6. The Indian soared in confidence, showing deception at the net as well as coming with incisive smashes.

Saina, who retained her last week’s number two ranking in the latest WBF rankings, enjoyed another bout of play when she dominated Sayaka and won seven points on the trot to rattle up a 21-13 opening game romp.

Sayaka started the second set strongly in a bid to level things and gained a 7-5 lead. But Saina collected two points to make it 9-9.

The Indian marched ahead even as her Japanese opponent tried to keep pace with her.

Saina played the closing points well to bag it at 21-19 to book her berth in the quarterfinals.

Saina now plays Spain’s world number 27 Carolina Marin in the last-eight stage.

Earlier, the Indian was pushed hard by Indonesian world number 14 Fanetri Lindaweni before prevailing 21-17, 25-27, 21-13 in the opening round.

Saina is angling to retain the Indonesian Open after a disappointing quarterfinal exit in last week’s SGC Thailand Open – which she also won last year.

It may be pertinent to mention that the Indian shuttlers has turned impressive performances after a quiet start to the year. The country’s shuttlers reigned supreme in the Yonex Sunrise Indian Open held in New Delhi.

India’s 38^th ranked Anand Pawar reached the men’s singles semifinals where he was outclassed by Japan’s Kenichi Tago. PV Sindhu reached the women’s singles semifinals where she went down to Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon.

PV Sindhu won her maiden singles crown – the Malaysian Open.

K Srikanth also won his maiden singles crown – the Thailand Open stunning Boonsak Ponsana in front of his home crowd.