Jakarta: India's Saina Nehwal went down to Chinese Yihan Wang 21-12, 21-23, 14-21 in a gruelling tussle in the final of the Indonesia Open Super Series badminton here yesterday.
Fourth-seed Saina was a point away from clinching her third successive Indonesia Open title but she squandered a matchpoint at 20-19, allowing Yihan to roar her way back into the match that lasted a little over an hour.
Nevertheless, the runners-up position will give a much-needed boost to Saina, 21, who has not had a good run recently and has been troubled by her knee. She lost in the quarterfinals in the Thailand Open and then made a second round exit in the Singapore Open.
Clinical finish
Yesterday, World No 4 Saina, egged on by a vociferous crowd, began the final with a flourish. She kept herself ahead of the World No 3, who beat the Indian in the Uber Cup this year.
Saina was patient in constructing the points and clinical with the finish. She kept Yihan guessing with her change of pace and moved her all around the court.
Saina used the cross-court shots to perfection. She opened up a 9-6 lead, but Yihan levelled. Saina kept the pressure on Yihan. From 12-12, the Indian surged ahead to take the lead. Yihan engaged Saina in long rallies in the second game and that paid off. The Chinese established a 10-7 lead.
Saina did not allow the gap to widen and made a strong return to level 19-19 much to the surprise of Yihan.
Saina's only title this year has been the Swiss Open Grand Prix with two runners up finishes at Malaysia and now Indonesia.
RESULTS
Men's singles
Lee Chong Wei (MAS x1) bt Peter Gade (DEN x5) 21-11, 21-7
Women's singles
Wang Yihan (CHN x3) bt Saina Nehwal (IND x4) 12-21, 23-21, 21-14
