Asian Games bronze medallist Saina Nehwal won in straight sets against Kim Ga Eun to advance into the quarter-finals of the Korea Open women’s singles event in Seoul on Thursday.
The former World No.1, who has so far won without breaking much sweat, once again showed her lethal prowess blasting the South Korean 21-18, 21-18 in just 36 minutes to seal her entry into the top eight.
Saina started well and surged to a 6-1 lead and further increased it to 10-2 to create a deficit of eight points. But Kim found some form as she earned four consecutive points to lower the deficit to four points. Having gained the momentum, the South Korean soon levelled the game at 16-16. But the Commonwealth Games gold medallist Saina came back after a brief period to clinch three straight points and with it the opening set at 21-18.
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It was a similar start in the second game. Only this time it was Kim and not Nehwal, who took points on the opening exchanges. She was 5-1 at one stage, but Saina’s fightback spirit was rewarded with two straight points and soon she equalled the game on 13-13.
Nehwal didn’t need to play much attacking after that and she faced little difficulties in winning the second game by a similar margin.