Saina, Chen begin BWF games with a bang

Saina Nehwal of India in action against Wang Shixian of China in the BWF Destination Dubai World Finals. Photo by Shihab/ Khaleej Times

Dubai — Poster girl Saina Nehwal shocked world number two Wang Shixian 21-17, 21-18 in a Group A women’s singles qualifying match, in front of a small crowd of passionate followers on the opening day of the $1 million MetLife BWF Destination Dubai World Finals at the Hamdan Sports Complex, Wednesday night.

At the time of going to the Press, Kento Momoto of Japan and Kidambi Srikanth of India were one set all in their Group B men’s singles encounter. Saina, the Indian world number four, engaged her Chinese opponent, the top seed in Dubai, in long rallies. “Like I said earlier on Monday, Wang is one player who is very difficult to cross with just an attacking game. I am so pleased to have beaten her for the first time in straight sets,” said Saina.

World champion and the top seed in the men’s singles here, Chen Long of China was at his usual best, though he had to wait till the midway stages of both the sets before stopping Japan’s Kenichi Tago in straight sets, 21-11, 21-14 during the afternoon session.

“I had a slow start and I was really not into it in the opening phases of both sets, but managed to comeback with an attacking and faster game,” said Chen

Despite playing tentatively during the early stages of the first set, top seed Wang was able to force Saina into unforced errors. Saina soon found length and depth in her tosses and with clever net drops positioned herself at 20-14 before managing to hang on to close the first chapter. Badminton followers will get to see the world’s top eight players in five categories go a gear higher when the second round of the group qualifiers takes place on Thursday.

For starters, Chen will be in action again at around 2pm while India’s upcoming and stylish Kidambi Srikanth plays his next round at around 5pm. Saina plays her next Group A match at around 7pm.

Only the top eight ranked players of the five categories (men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles) in the 12-leg Superseries championships are eligible to take part.

Dangerous Group A floater Hans-Kristian Vittinghus of Denmark shocked the in-form South Korean, Son Wan Ho, 21-13, 21-16 inside three quarters of an hour in the morning’s second men’s singles match. The other players in this group are Chen and Tago.

In a women’s singles Group A opener, Hong Kong Open winner Tai Tzu Ying dampened Thai spirits with a three-set 21-13, 18-21, 21-10 win over teenage sensation and 2013 world champion Ratchanok Intanon. Jan O Jorgensen, the higher rated of the two Danes in the men’s singles, doused the spirited challenge of Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto 21-15, 21-19 in Group B of the men’s singles. The pony-tailed Dane stepped on the pedal after a slow start in the Men’s Singles Group B opener. The lineup in Group B also has Srikanth of India and Japanese front man Kento Momota.

Doubles power houses South Korea exhibited sheer class in the all-Korean clashes in the women’s and men’s sections. Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong catwalked past world champions Ko Sung Hyun/Shin Baek Choel 21-14, 21-11 in Group A of the men’s doubles; while Jung Kyung Eun/Kim Ha Na fought hard against Chang Ye Na/Kim So Yeong before winning 21-12, 9-21, 21-15 in women’s Group A play.

The schedule of the day’s matches can be obtained atwww.destinationdubai.ae

moni@khaleejtimes.com