Date:27/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/27/stories/2006052705152000.htm

Sport - Badminton

Saina in semifinals

HYDERABAD: India's Saina Nehwal shocked World No. 4 Xu Huaiwen, the Chinese-born shuttler representing Germany, 12-21, 21-15, 21-17 in the women's singles quarterfinals of the Philippines Open badminton tournament in Manila on Friday, according to information received here.

Saina has become the first ever Indian woman to enter the last four stage of a four-star international event, according to Gopi Chand.

A delighted Saina told The Hindu over telephone that this was the biggest and the most satisfying win of her career. "This should go a long way in boosting my confidence. I was not at all tense," she said. She will be meeting Japan's unseeded Ai Goto.

The results: Women: Quarterfinals: Saina Nehwal bt Xu Huaiwen 12-21, 21-15, 21-17; Pre-quarterfinals: Saina bt Sachiyo Imai 21-15, 21-14; Sayali Gokhale lost to Ai Gota 21-14, 21-13.

Men: Chetan Anand lost to Roslin Hashim 21-9, 18-21, 21-15; Arvind Bhat lost to Wei 21-13, 21-11; Anup Sridhar lost to Yen Hui Kendrick Lee 20-22, 21-19, 21-19; Anand Pawar lost to Boonsak Ponsana 21-15, 22-20; P. Kashyap lost to Beng Hong Kuan 21-11, 21-16.

Men's doubles: Pre-quarterfinals: Rupesh Kumar & Sanave Thomas bt Nattapon Naktong & Songpol Anukritayawan of Thailand 21-17, 21-18. — Principal Correspondent