Johor Baru, June 25: Indian ace Saina Nehwal bounced back from a game down to outpoint Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon and advanced into the quarter-finals of the Malaysian Grand Prix Gold, here today.
The second seed Saina was a game down before she got her acts together and roared back to subside Intanon’s challenge 18-21, 21-12, 21-18 in 46 minutes.
Saina will next face Chinese qualifier Xin Wang who beat sixth seed Ai Goto of Japan in her pre quarter-final match.
It was an even battle in the first game as the unfancied Thai girl took the game 21-18 but faced a baptism of fire in the next game which saw Saina ease to a comfortable 21-12 win.
Such was the dominance of the 19-year-old Hyderabadi girl that there were hardly any chances for the Thai girl to make any impact in the game and from 4-4 at one stage, the Indian just ran away with the game.
Saina then got all her experience into play and although, her rival did show some better fight in the decider, the newly-crowned Indonesian Open champion maintained her lead which she snatched when both the shuttlers were locked at 4-4.
—Agencies