Highlights: Saina Nehwal Vs. Wang Yihan

Wang Yihan of China beat India’s Saina Nehwal in the semifinal of the women’s singles badminton at the London Olympics. Read highlights of the match here.

          

• • 1:13 am
  • by Will Davies
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  Saina Nehwal hasn’t dropped a single set so far these Games, cruising through the group round, then the last 16 and lastly Thursday’s quarter-final against fifth seed Tine Braun from Denmark.
• • 1:14 am
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  But this semi-final is an altogether different proposition, as the 22-year-old Indian takes on number one seed Wang Yihan from China. Saina is the only non-Chinese player left in the competition.
• • 1:17 am
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  Before the Olympics, Nehwal had told The Wall Street Journal that the Chinese would be the toughest to beat, and so it is proving.
• • 1:19 am
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  Wang has the upper hand in the first set, leading 15-7.
• • 1:20 am
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  Given how popular badminton is in China, and how popular Saina Nehwal is in India, there could be a fair few million people watching this clash. India is desperate for another medal these Games, and Saina is a big hope. But she’s going to have to climb a mountain in this match. 9-16
• • 1:22 am
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  The line judge changes his mind after calling Wang's shot out. It's in, she extends her lead and closes in on a one-game lead.
• • 1:23 am
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  But Nehwal is fighting hard. The two are dancing around the court and there's an Indian fan in the stands cheering with his tricolor flag. He's not alone.
• • 1:24 am
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  Nehwal hits the shuttlecock in to the net after lunging forward to pick up a Wang drop shot. The Chinese No.1 seed moves to 20-13.
• • 1:25 am
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  And Wang takes the first game 21-13, that's the first game Nehwal has dropped this Olympics. Wang looks confident.
• • 1:27 am
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  Back out for the second game, Wang in yellow, Nehwal in black. Wang to serve, one game up.
• • 1:28 am
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  Nehwal takes the first point, but Wang fights back immediately for 1-1. The Chinese star then hits the net and Nehwal, number four seed, takes a 2-1 lead.
• • 1:29 am
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  Wang draws back to 2-2. Then a long rally ends as Wang lobs the shuttlecock long and Nehwal lets it drop, just centimeters outside the line.
• • 1:31 am
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  Wang, who has broken sweat, yelps after forcing a Nehwal return into the net. She's not giving the Indian star any room, and moves into the lead 5-3. Nehwal is up against it now, she needs to fight back and reel Wang in.
• • 1:32 am
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  India still only has one medal this Olympics, a bronze in the shooting. China, on the other hand, has a mountain of them. If Wang wins this match, then China will be in line for bronze, silver and gold in the women's badminton. Not bad. There is a bronze medal match on Saturday between the two losing semi-finalists though.
• • 1:33 am
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  Nehwal is hanging on in there, fighting back in this game to 6-7.
• • 1:34 am
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  But she misses that one, and Wang moves two points into the clear again.
• • 1:35 am
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  A long rally sees Wang pulling Newhal back and forth in her court, but Nehwal somehow stretches for a winner - 7-8

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