Saina, Jwala-Diju join semifinals of World Series Masters

JOHOR BAHRU - India’s Saina Nehwal scored an emphatic 21-13, 21-19 victory over Thailand’s Porntip Buranaprasertsuk to reach the semi-finals of the World Super Series Masters Finals badminton here Friday.

There was more cheer for India as mixed doubles pair of V. Diju and Jwala Gutta also reached the semi-finals after defeating Thailand’s Songphon Anugritayawon and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul 21-12, 21-8.

Saina registered her second successive victory in Group A after losing to Malaysian Wong Mew Choo in the first match.

Wong Mew defeated Canadian Reid Charmaine 21-6, 21-13, thus qualifying for the semi-final with three wins.

Top seeded Saina said that she has now adjusted to the conditions and well prepared for the semi-finals.

“I always believed that it will go down to the final match of the preliminary rounds,” said Saina.

“There is some draft in the stadium and it is a distraction, hence I could not control some of my shots. But with the preliminary round over, it is time to focus on the semi-final and whoever I have to play, I am prepared,” said the World No 8.

Group B is still tight with Juliane Schenk of Germany and Yao Jie of Netherlands both winning two matches. Schenk will play her last match against Thailand’s Ponsana Salakjit who has one win from two outings.

In mixed doubles, Jwala and Diju after losing their first Group B match, sealed their place with two successive victories.

With Anthony Clark-Dinna Kellogg virtually certain of taking the top spot in Group B, the race was wide open for the second spot but Diju-Jwala sealed the berth Friday.

In the men’s singles, there former world champion Taufik Hidayat ended his campaign without a win. The Indonesian was beaten by Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Yu Hsin 21-17, 21-15.

Both players are already out of the competition with world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei and Bao Chunlai making the cut for the semi-finals from Group A.

In Group B, the race for the two semi-finals spots were thrown wide open after Jan Jorgensen beat Koreas Park Sung Hwan in straight games.

The Danes’ 21-19, 21-13 win means Peter Gade must beat Thailands Boonsak Ponsana to ensure his place in the last four.

A Boonsak win will mean all three players - Boonsak, Park and Gade - will have two wins each.