Saina enters French Open semi-final

October 27, 2012


sain_into_semi_final

Hyderabad, October 27: World No. 2 Saina Nehwal warded off a spirited challenge from the three-time world junior champion Ratchanok Inthanon of Thailand to record a 22-20, 22-20 in the 41-minute, women’s singles quarter-final of the French Open Super Series badminton championship late on Friday night.

Saina, the London Olympics bronze medallist from India, ran up a 11-7 sizeable lead in the first game and looked to be easing her way to wrap up the game. But, the World No. 10 from Thailand was in no mood to surrender easily and came up with a brilliant counter-attack which clearly surprised the star Indian performer, winner of four titles already this year besides the Olympics bronze.

The 17-year-old Ratchanok even staved off a game point and threatened to spoil Saina’s game-plan by picking three points in-a-row to make level the scores at 20-all. That was the phase when the Thailand girl came up with impressive forehand smashes and even countered Saina’s brilliance at the net.

But, the 22-year-old champion shuttler from Hyderabad settled the issue when she forced the opponent into an erratic return and then came up with a big smash to clinch the first game.

In the second game too, Saina was off to a decent start again leading 4-0 before Thai girl showed fighting qualities with her ability to counter the Indian at the net where the Indian’s reputation is awesome.

But, just again when Ratchanok fought back brilliantly even to lead 11-8 at one stage, Saina changed gear to come up with her trademark strokes to level the scores, which happened quite frequently.

With right knee strapped, Saina brought in all her experience and class to wrap the game and the match against an opponent who won the World juniors title when she was just 14.

There were moments in the second game when Ratchanok looked dangerous and take the issue into the third game as she staved off three match-points to make reduce the lead from 17-20 to 20-all.


But, Saina was in no mood to relax and came with a brilliant return, then two big smashes to clinch the game and the match to ensure her maiden French Open semi-final appearance.

With this victory, the ace shuttler from India has moved another step closer to winning her third straight Super Series title this year.




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Agencies
January 9,2020

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 9: BWF World Championships defending champion PV Sindhu on Thursday cruised to the quarterfinals of the ongoing Malaysia Masters after winning a second-round match.

The 24-year-old had the upper hand in the clash and thrashed Japan's Aya Ohori in straight games 21-10, 21-15 that lasted for 34-minute. The world number six will now play in her quarterfinal match on January 10.

Earlier in the day, Saina Nehwal defeated South Korea's An Se Young 25-23, 21-12 in 38 minutes. The first game saw back and forth action between both shuttlers. In the end, Nehwal kept her cool to win the match.

On Wednesday, the 29-year-old had outclassed Belgium's Lianne Tan 21-15, 21-17 to progress to the pre-quarterfinals.

Shuttlers Parupalli Kashyap and Kidambi Srikanth crashed out of the tournament after losing their matches to Japan's Kento Momota and Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei respectively. 

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News Network
June 25,2020

Jun 25: After asserting that the 2011 World Cup final was "sold" by "certain parties" in Sri Lanka to India, the island nation's former sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has now called his claim a "suspicion" that he wants investigated.

The Lankan government has ordered an enquiry into the matter and a special Police investigation unit recorded Aluthgamage's statement on Wednesday. He told the team that he was only suspicious of fixing.

"I want my suspicion investigated," Aluthgamage told reporters.

"I gave to the Police, a copy of the complaint I lodged with the International Cricket Council (ICC) on 30 October 2011 regarding the said allegation as then Sports Minister," he said.

Aluthgamage has alleged that his country "sold" the game to India, a claim that was ridiculed by former captains Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene who demanded evidence from him.

Set a target of 275, India clinched the trophy thanks to the brilliance of Gautam Gambhir (97) and then skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (91).

"Today I am telling you that we sold the 2011 world cup, I said this when I was the sports minister," Aluthgamage, who was the sports minister at the time, had stated.

Sangakkara, the captain of Sri Lanka at that time, asked him to produce evidence for an anti-corruption probe.

"He needs to take his 'evidence' to the ICC and the Anti corruption and Security Unit so the claims can be investigated thoroughly," he tweeted.

Jayawardene, also a former captain who scored a hundred in that game, ridiculed the charge.

"Is the elections around the corner...like the circus has started...names and evidence?" he asked in a tweet.

Aluthgamage said that in his opinion no players were involved in fixing the result, "but certain parties were."

Both Aluthgamage and the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa were among the invitees at the final played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Following his allegations, Aravinda de Silva, the former great who was the then chairman of selectors, has urged the BCCI to conduct its own investigation.

De Silva has said he is willing to travel to India to take part in such an investigation despite the current COVID-19 threat.

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Agencies
January 23,2020

Aurangabad, Jan 23: An FIR has been registered against three people including former cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin for allegedly duping a travel agent, Mohammad Shadab, of more than Rs 20 lakh.

However, Mohammad Azharuddin has refuted allegations and said: "I strongly rubbish the false FIR filed against me in Aurangabad. I am consulting my legal team and would be taking action as necessary."

Azharuddin's personal assistant Mujeeb lives in Augurangabad and has good relations with the travel agency of Shadab.

The travel agent alleged that Mujeeb asked him to book some flight tickets but did not pay the amount.

The police have booked the three under Section 406, 420 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

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