Saina Nehwal off to a flying start at the Yonex Japan Open

Saina Nehwal in action

Saina Nehwal’s Yonex Japan Open got off to a flying start after she beat Busanan Ongbumrungpan of Thailand in straight games on Wednesday.

Saina didn’t have the best of starts as she was 4-1 down in the first game and then 7-4 before fighting back. From 10 – 9, Saina let Busanan take only five points and went onto claim the first game 21-14. Despite the stutter at the start Saina cruised to take the last four points to clinch the first set easily.

After the break, Busanan started off strong taking the first three points before Saina levelled the scores at 4-4 and then broke away to take a 4-9 lead. Saina seemed to be cruising in the second game as well but Busanan wasn’t going to lie down easily and it looked like she was going to make a comeback. At 11-16 she seemed all but out of the fixture but she fought back leveling the scores at 18 – 18.

Saina took the next point to take the lead at 18-19 but Busanan wasn’t going to lie down and let Saina win easily and went on to take the next two points to bring up game point at 20– 19. But as we all know Saina is a fighter and she came back to make it 20 – 20 and despite the late resurgence from Busanan went on to clinch the tie 20 – 22.

The 25-year-old who is ranked number one in the World at the moment will look to clinch her second title of the year, after losing in the All England finals and the World Championships both to Carolina Marin.

Final Scores:

Saina Nehwal beat Busanan Ongbumrungpan 21 – 14, 22 – 20