CWG: Saina Nehwal wins women’s singles title

TIL Desk Sports/ Indian star Saina Nehwal defeated compatriot P.V. Sindhu by straight games to win the women’s singles title in the badminton competition at the 21st Commonwealth Games (CWG) here on Sunday. Saina displayed some superb form to clinch a 21-18, 23-21 victory in the final.

Saina was fired up and played with power and aggression to put Sindhu under pressure right from the start. Sindhu on the other hand, struggled to match her compatriot although she gave a stiff fight in the second game. Sindhu struggled with her placements during the opening game, her best shot being a well-placed one into the left corner of Saina’s side of the court at 9-12.

Saina had forced the lead right at the start of the first game and continued to increase the advantage at a steady pace. A superb drop shot gave Saina a 19-15 lead before Sindhu fought back to reduce the gap. But Sindhu’s poor accuracy let her down once again as she fired an attempted return into the net to give Saina the first game.

The second game was a totally different story as Sindhu picked up the tempo. Saina had taken the early lead in the second game as well before she fired one wide to allow Sindhu to draw level at 4-4. Sindhu took two back to back points take a 6-4 lead before Saina reduced the gap with a deceptive smash that totally outfoxed her rival.