Saina Nehwal faces Carolina Marin in the World Badminton Championship women’s singles final on Sunday. (Source: AP) Saina Nehwal faces Carolina Marin in the World Badminton Championship women’s singles final on Sunday. (Source: AP)

Saina Nehwal failed in her quest to become first Indian women’s player to win a gold medal at the World Championship after she lost her final match against defending champion and number one seed Carolina Marin 16-21 19-21 in Jakarta on Sunday. After leading early in both sets, Saina let go of the advantage and ended up the second best. She becomes the first Indian player to win a silver at Worlds.

Commentary

As it happened…

1347 hrs IST: ALL OVER! Carolina Marin defends her title after a 21-16 21-19 win over India’s Saina Nehwal in the final

1337 hrs IST: Saina Nehwal once again taking the charge in the match. 14-13 for Saina.

1336 hrs IST: Saina Nehwal breaks Marin after the Spaniard takes 7 straight points. 13-13 now

1330 hrs IST: Carolina Marin coming back into the match now. Wins 4 straight points to reduce Saina’s lead to 2 points. 10-12.

1327 hrs IST: Saina Nehwal has a 5 point lead in the second set. At half, she leads 11-6. Can she hold on?

1322 hrs IST: Saina Nehwal has begun the second set on an aggressive note. She leads 9-5.

1315 hrs IST: Carolina Marin wins the first set 21-16 against Saina Nehwal. Some brilliant plays from the Spaniard.

1311 hrs IST: Marin once again on the charge and she has seven game points. 20-13

1300 hrs IST: Great net play from Marin. She is slowly taking charge in the first set. 5 straight points and she now leads Saina 11-7 in the first set.

1258 hrs IST: Marin with the lead now. Has made it 9-7

1257 hrs IST: Saina Nehwal takes early lead. But Carolina Marin has levelled up. Makes it 7-7.

1250 hrs IST: Saina Nehwal and Carolina Marin are out in the court. Will Saina become the first Indian to clinch a Worlds gold medal or will Marin defend her title?

1245 hrs IST: Moments away from the final between Saina Nehwal and Carolina Marin.

Saina Nehwal expects a bumpy ride on Marin drive

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