Saina Nehwal pocketed only $43,400 in 2013
NEW DELHI: Indian shuttle queen Saina Nehwal hasn't had the best of seasons and it reflects in her prize money
earnings. She occupies only the 38th place in the list of top 50
earners in badminton based on prize money awarded during the 2013 season
for all BWF tournaments.
KUALA LUMPUR: After two successive defeats, Saina Nehwal finally managed to post a hard-fought win over Yeon Ju Bae of Korea in her last Group B match but it was not good enough to ensure a semifinal berth for the Indian ace shuttler in the BWF World Superseries Finals on Friday.
The 23-year-old Indian registered a 21-11, 17-21, 21-13 win over Bae in
a match that last for one hour. It was Saina's sixth victory over Bae,
who had an upper hand against the Indian recently in French Super Series
and World Champioship.
World number six Saina had suffered
back-to-back defeats at the hands of Minatsu Mitani of Japan and world
number one Chinese shuttler Li Xuerui
in her two matches of Group B, which had put her in a must-win
situation on Friday to salvage any hope of a semifinal qualification.
A straight-game victory over Bae would have brightened her chances but
after the Korean snatched the second game away, it dashed the hopes of
the Olympic bronze medallist to reach the semis.
Later in the
day, Xuerui packed off Mitani 21-11, 21-14 to make it a three-way tie
among Saina, Bae and Mitani for the second place in the group.
However, according to the tournament rules, when the difference of games
won and games lost was calculated, Bae was found ahead of Saina and
Mitani and the Korean joined Xuerui as the runners-up from Group B.
After lying low for the last two days, Saina came out with all
cylinders blazing against Bae. She moved well across the court and
played an aggressive game.
In the opening game, from 6-6, Saina
registered six straight points to gather a healthy lead. The six point
run was broken when Saina hit long but the Indian continued to dominate
and reached 15-7. But a series of unforced errors saw Bae trim the lead
to 10-15.
Saina then engaged her rival in an aggressive rally
and finished it with a good net play. The left-handed Bae found it
difficult to negotiate Saina's better net play and allowed the Indian to
take a 18-10 lead.
A couple of points more and Saina was
sitting comfortably on a 10 game points but the Indian rushed into a net
shot as Bae saved one game point but the Hyderabadi didn't make any
more mistake and nosed ahead when the Korean hit wide.
The
second game was a tight battle as Saina had to dig deep into her
reserves to keep her nose ahead. Both the shuttlers played out of their
skin and engaged in some amazing rallies and net duel but it was Bae who enjoyed a narrow 11-10 lead at the break.
Saina was more aggressive after the interval but Bae still managed to
win points with the help of her repertoire of strokes - first a drop at
the fore court and then a powerful smash.
Bae soon reached 15-12 but Saina tried to stay close with her baseline smashes.
As the game wear on, Saina hit harder and harder to make it 16-17 but
Bae was not ready to take it lying low. The Korean made Saina run back
and froth in the court and changed the pace to slowly reach 20-16. Saina
saved a game point but the Indian served long to allow Bae come back
into the contest.
In the decider, Saina opened up a 4-0 lead
but she rushed to a net shot to allow Bae a point. Bae tried to tire out
the Indian with a long rally but a right judgement allowed Saina to
lead 6-1.
Bae slowly made it 4-8 but the Indian ensured that she enjoyed a six-point advantage at the break.
After the interval, Bae tried to get back into the match but Saina
ensured that she kept her lead and eventually closed the issue
comfortably at 21-13.
KUALA LUMPUR: Indian badminton star Saina Nehwal and Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China have been put in same group for the BWF Super Series Finals, that will be played here Dec 11-15, after the draws were announced at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium on Tuesday.
Japan's Minatsu Mitani and Yeon Ju Bae of South Korea are the other players in Group B besides Saina, who is seeded second, and Xuerui.
"I have worked hard and prepared well for the tournament. I feel I am
ready to challenge in Kuala Lumpur," said Saina in a statement.
Saina's first match will be relatively easier as she will face World
No.13 Minatsu against whom she has a 3-1 record and they too will be
meeting for the first time this year.
Next up will be Olympic
champion Xuerui. Saina has a 2-5 record against the top-rated Chinese.
The 23-year-old Saina will have a tough outing against the Chinese in
their first match of 2013. Their last meeting was in the 2012 edition of
the Finals.
Saina will finish her group encounter against World No.7 Yeon, against whom she has a 5-4 win-loss record.
Saina said there won't be any easy matches.
"Whatever the draw is, there will be no easy matches in the Superseries
finals and I am completely prepared for it. I will take each match as
it comes and give my best," said Saina.
China's Shixian Wang, Thai Porntip Buranaprasertsuk, South Korean Ji Hyun Sung and Chinese Taipei's Tzu Ying Tai are in Group A of the year-ending $500,000 showpiece event. The top two from each group will progress to the semi-finals.
Though Saina has not won a single tournament this year, she has
maintained the No.2 position in the Super Series rankings this season,
enabling her to qualify for the Dec 11-15 tournament.
With
three Super Series semi-final appearances in the 12-leg calendar, Saina,
an Olympic bronze medallist qualified quiet for the tourney where she
finished runners up two years ago in 2011.
Saina, who is also a
two-time semi-finalist here, does have a good chance if she finds her
footing and form at the event which pits the eight best players of the
current year.
Chinese Taipei's Tai, who won the Malaysia Open,
is lucky to enter the event because tournament regulations stipulate a
maximum of two players per country, automatically ruling out No.8 Yihan
Wang with compatriots Shixian and Xuerui ahead of her.