WORLDS 2010 – 2nd seed Saina cruises to third round

World #2, sensation Saina Nehwal, was found struggling against the rather unknown Taiwanese Chen Hsiao Huan, emerging as a winner after three hard games for her first match in the 2010 Yonex BWF World Championships.

By Tarek Hafi (live from Paris). Photo: Badmintonphoto (live from Paris)

The on-form Indian player entered the court under heavy pressure as she is currently seeded second in these World Championships, expected therefore to perform at her best. However tiny problems always come to obstruct one’s plan, and Chen Hsiao Huan showed her full potential after a year blank of any good performance, with incredible court coverage, battling hard to retrieve every possible shot and making it impossible for Saina Nehwal to properly set up her attacking game.

“I was quite nervous during the first game as it’s my first match here,” said Saina, “but then after it was really better, being for the first time the number two seed in a world championship is a bit tough to accept.”

The Indian girl kept on playing with her usual game, pressuring Chen with great attacks showing all her athletic abilities. “When I created the gap, I could release the pressure.  In a big tournament like this, you always feel a lot of pressure.”

Saina Nehwal will get a tougher task in the hand of Ella Diehl, who was victorious against Wong Mew Choo, after a splendid three-game battle.

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For on-the-scene video reporting from the World Championships, take a look at the Badzine TV magazine, HERE