Technoglitch
Core Member
Ace India shuttler Saina Nehwal defeated local favourite Lindaweni Fanetri in 21-17, 21-17 in the last-four to reach her maiden final of the Badminton World Championships in Jakarta on Saturday.
Saina will face World No 1 and defending champion Carolina Marin of Spain in the summit clash on Sunday. Marin came through a war of attrition against Korea's Sung Ji-hyun to claim a pulsating 21-17, 15-21, 21-16 victory in a marathon encounter on Saturday that ebbed and flowed through a series of momentum shifts.
The Spaniard was a surprise champion as ninth seed a year ago but has since risen to the top of the rankings with a game built on confidence, athleticism and a never-say-die attitude.
Fanetri, who has not won any major title, looked uncomfortable throughout the match because of an injury but didn't let that affect her game, giving her much higher-ranked opponent a tough fight. In the last decade, the only major title that the world No. 29 has won was the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold, a Grade IV tournament, in 2012. She was the runner-up in the Chinese Taipei Open and Vietnam Open in 2012.
Earlier on Friday, in a nerve-jangling one hour, 12 minute fight, Saina triumphed 21-15, 19-21, 21-19 against China's Wang Yihan to make her maiden entry into the Worlds semifinals, which assured her of at least a bronze mdal.
Saina Nehwal becomes first Indian to reach World Badminton final - The Times of India
Saina will face World No 1 and defending champion Carolina Marin of Spain in the summit clash on Sunday. Marin came through a war of attrition against Korea's Sung Ji-hyun to claim a pulsating 21-17, 15-21, 21-16 victory in a marathon encounter on Saturday that ebbed and flowed through a series of momentum shifts.
The Spaniard was a surprise champion as ninth seed a year ago but has since risen to the top of the rankings with a game built on confidence, athleticism and a never-say-die attitude.
Fanetri, who has not won any major title, looked uncomfortable throughout the match because of an injury but didn't let that affect her game, giving her much higher-ranked opponent a tough fight. In the last decade, the only major title that the world No. 29 has won was the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold, a Grade IV tournament, in 2012. She was the runner-up in the Chinese Taipei Open and Vietnam Open in 2012.
Earlier on Friday, in a nerve-jangling one hour, 12 minute fight, Saina triumphed 21-15, 19-21, 21-19 against China's Wang Yihan to make her maiden entry into the Worlds semifinals, which assured her of at least a bronze mdal.
Saina Nehwal becomes first Indian to reach World Badminton final - The Times of India
