Jakarta: World No. 1 women’s shuttler Carolina Marin defeated India’s badminton ace Saina Nehwal in straight sets 24-22, 21-11 in the last eight of Indonesia Open in Jakarta on Friday.
Marin started the match aggressively and took a huge lead at 13-7, before Nehwal fought back to reel off 6 straight point and pulled ahead with 16-14. After being neck and neck in a nerve-wracking contest toward the end of first game, Marin finally sealed the first set with 24-22.
The World No. 1 Marin was back in control in the second set, as she swept past the Indian 21-11 in the match that lasted 47 minutes.
Marin will play Wang Yihan of China in the semi-finals on Saturday. Wang had beat Marin in the Malaysia Open on April 8, 2016. As Marin was seen as the No. 1 threat to the China women’s singles shuttlers in the Rio Olympics, if Wang can beat Marin again on Saturday, it would improve her chances of being selected to play for China in the women’s singles event in Rio Olympics.
Tai Tzu Ying will clash with Wang Shixian in other women’s singles semi-final.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair Vivian Hoo/Woon Khe Wei has found resurgence and was gaining momentum full speed ahead by seeing off Anggia Shitta Awanda/Mahadewi Istirani Ni Ketut of Indonesia 21-14, 21-19. The Malaysian pair will play No. 3 seeds Tang Yuanting/Yu Yang in the semi-final.
Women’s doubles No. 1 seeds Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi also marched on to the semi-finals and will play unseeded Eefje Muskens/Selena Piek of Netherland on Saturday.
