By Harpal Singh Bedi
Jakarta, Aug 25 (UNI) Olympic medalists Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu chalked out emphatic victories over their Indonesian rivals to move into the Women’s singles quarter-finals of the Badminton competition in the 18th Asian Games here on Saturday.
Saina outplayed Indonesian Fitriani Fitriani 21-6, 21-14 in 33 minutes while Sindhu defeated GM Tunjung 21-12, 21-15 in 35 minutes.
In between in the men’s doubles S Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty failed to hold on to their lead in the decider and went down to Korea's Choi Solgyu and Minhyuk Kang 17-21, 21-19, 17-21.
Indian men should not have lost this marathon match which lasted 61 minutes.
In the women’s doubles any hopes Ashwini Ponnapa and N Sikki Reddy might have entertained of a medal but were dashed as the Indian pair lost in the quarter-final to Chinese duo of Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan 11-21, 22-24 in 38 minutes.
Chastened by their unexpected defeats in the team event, Saina and Sindhu overwhelmed their rivals who were backed by partisan crowd who had filled the hall.
Saina and later Sindhu withstood the noise and din created by the spectators as they clinically dismantled their rivals.
Saina was in control of the proceedings while Fitriani Fitriani pumped by the crowd support tried to make a match against her much higher ranked rival.
The Indian made short work of her rival in the first game, but had to wait much longer in the second to emerge winner. Fitriani stepped up her game as Saina lost few points due to unforced errors and couple of them because of poor judgment.
However there was never a crisis moment for the Indian who raised the bar and wrapped up the game and match.
“I am feeling good” said Saina after the match “It was good match and I played to my plan.”
She was candid enough to admit that she was expecting resistance from her rival ”She is a local girl and expectedly had a crowd support and this was no surprise. But I played well.”
Rio Olympic silver medallist Sindhu started in a whirlwind fashion and after negotiating some early resistance she raced to 13-9 lead and then conceded three more points to Tunjung she took the first game 21-12.
World number 3, Sindhu was equally dominating in the second game in which she took a 11-4 lead but sudden lapse of concentration enabled her rival to close the gap to 12-10.
Most of the points conceded by the Indian were either when she returned wide or failed to judge the landing of the shuttle.
Sindhu attacked her rival with powerful smashes and skilful drop shots which Tunjjung found it hard to return.
The tall Indian took advantage of her height as she covered the court with speed and agility which left her rival stranded.
Sindhu closed the game and wrapped up the match at 21-15, to keep the country’s hopes of medal alive in this category.
“Oh it was good match and a good victory” she said adding “yes there was some hiccup in the second but I kept my calm.”
“I want to keep it easy, I know there are lot of expectations but then Asian Games is not easy for medal picking. It is a very strenuous tournament” she said.
Sindhu said though crowd was behind Tunjung which was expected because she is a local girl. But I was happy when they cheered me on winning a point .It was a fantastic crowd.
Ranki Reddy and Chirag Shetty lost a doubles match which they should have won.
The Indian pair after losing the first game rallied back superbly to win the next and in the decider led 8-4 before conceding the lead and then surrendering the match.
“The noise was so much, because the whole stadium was rooting for their women’s doubles pair against the Chinese in the match which was being played adjacent to our court. ”That created major issue.We could not communicate with each other in that din” Ranki Reddy said.
UNI HSB NC1546