India Open: With Rare Win, Saina’s Smile Returns
Victory over top-level opponents has become rare for Saina Nehwal. And so, when she nailed the final point against Mia Blichfeldt in front of her home crowd at the YONEX SUNRISE India Open 2023, she erupted in the…
· DEV SUKUMAR
Victory over top-level opponents has become rare for Saina Nehwal. And so, when she nailed the final point against Mia Blichfeldt in front of her home crowd at the YONEX SUNRISE India Open 2023, she erupted in the kind of celebration that was frequent in her halcyon years.
After five straight first round losses, Nehwal crossed the opening hurdle beating Blichfeldt 21-17 12-21 21-19. Not since beating He Bing Jiao at the Singapore Open last July has Nehwal beaten an opponent of similar stature – and the thrill of the conquest was evident in her broad smile as she came off the court.
The win of the struggling star provided a curious contrast to the straight-games defeat of home favourite Pusarla V Sindhu, who fell to Supanida Katethong for the second straight time at the India Open.