Saina, Srikath suffer Japanese assault at BWF Superseries Finals
Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth were handed straight-set defeats in their first round-robin matches at the BWF Superseries Finals in Dubai on Wednesday. The duo has two more games each left in the league stage, and will have to come good in both to book their places in the semis.
World No. 9 Srikanth, who is making his second appearance at the season- ender, seemed to be lacking in confidence as he suffered a straight set defeat 13-21, 12-21 at the hands of Kento Momota of Japan. The Japanese won six straight points from 1-3 to lead 7-3.
Srikanth started the game with a defensive strategy, feeding off the unforced errors that the Japanese made, to keep his score ticking. Momota had a handy three-point advantage at the break, and continued applying pressure post-interval on the Indian lad.
The left handed Japanese won six straight points yet again to lead 16-8. Srikanth managed to win a few points to make it 12-16, but could not resist longer as the Japanese pocketed the first game 21-13.
He made a sluggish start to the second game, and initially trailed 0-3 and 3-6. He, however, chose to stick to his defensive strategies trying to tire Momota, but remained unsuccessful as he was playing according the Japanese’s tune.
The controlled aggression that has helped Momota throughout his career, was at display once again as he raced his way to a lead 11-5. Meanwhile, Srikanth failed to convert a few good attacking opportunities before pulling back a few against the second-seeded Japanese, to make the score 10-19. However, the 22-year-old could manage only three more points, before Momota eventually wrapped up the game 21-13.
World No. 2 Saina Nehwal, who is nursing an injured foot, could not put up a good opening show for her ‘Saina Squad’ as she lost to Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in straight sets 14-21, 16-21.
The London Olympic Bronze medallist from India started the game on the back-foot as she initially trailed 4-8 in the first set, but staged a good comeback from there to level the scores at 11-11. Okuhara though, resisted the Indian’s effort to gain back the lead at 15-11.
Saina’s injury woes were evident, as she made some major changes to her on-court movements. She attempted early winners in order to finish the rally as soon as possible, which also meant that she made more unforced errors in her game, giving away points at crucial junctures. The Japanese had her first game point opportunity at 20-14 and successfully converted it to wrap up the game in 20 minutes.
The Japanese was in complete control of the second game as well, running up a seven-point lead at 11-4. Saina was nowhere in the frame, as she managed to take only two more points in the remainder of the set as Okuhara eventually won the game 21-6, to close the match in 35 minutes.
Saina will next play against her arch nemesis and World No.1, Carolina Marin, from Spain in her second league game, while K Srikanth will face Viktor Axelsen.
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