Uber Cup: Saina gives India 1-0 lead

Saina Nehwal earned a clinical straight games win over Minatsu Mitani to help India take a 1-0 lead over Japan in the Uber Cup badminton semi-final at the Siri Fort Sports Complex here Friday.

The Olympic bronze medallist beat the World No.12 Japanese 21-12, 21-13 to take a 4-2 lead in career meetings. Minatsu had won the previous two meetings.

Next up is the second singles match between World Championship bronze medallist P.V. Sindhu and Sayaka Takahashi. However, the Japanese girl has won the only match the two have played yet, two years back in Malaysia.

Both the teams are already assured of at least the bronze having qualified for the semi-finals. In the final, the winning team will take on 12-time and defending champions China.