<div><div><div><div>In one of the biggest upsets for the Indian Olympic contingent, medal hope Saina Nehwal crashed out of the Rio Games but Kidambi Srikanth and P V Sindhu kept India afloat by advancing to the pre-quarterfinals of the badminton event here today.<br /><br /></div><div>The London Olympics bronze medallist and world no. 5, Saina had inflammation on her right knee and lost 18-21 19-21 to World No. 61 Maria Ulitina of Ukraine in her second Group G match that lasted 39 minutes at the pavillion 4 Riocentre.<br /><br /></div><div>In Group M women's singles, Sindhu, however, managed to eke out a 19-21 21-15 21-17 win over Glasgow Commonwealth Games champion Li Michelle in a gruelling 72-minute match.<br /><br /></div><div>In men's singles, Srikanth, a former World No 3, defeated Sweden's Henri Hurskainen 21-6 21-18 in the second match of group H that lasted 34 minutes here to enter the knockout stage.<br /><br /></div><div>The 21-year-old Sindhu played a lot of drops at the backhand of Li but the Canada shuttler was up for it. After a tough fight, Sindhu managed a slender 11-10 lead at the break in the opening game. After the breather, the duo continued to fight for each point before a onrushing Li pushed the shuttle at the backcourt of Sindhu to pocket the first game.<br /><br /></div><div>The second game was no different as both the shuttler fought tooth and nail before Sindhu entered the break at 11-8. The Indian continued her good run and surged to a 18-13 lead and then reached the game point with a powerful smash. She eventually roared back to contest when Li found the net.<br /><br /></div><div>After lagging 1-3 in the decider, Sindhu turned the tables at 6-5. A couple of taps from Li going to the net meant Sindhu led 8-5. A deceptive net play and a judgement error by Li took Sindhu to 10-5, before the Indian entered the interval with a 11-7 lead after Li didn't have answer to her powerful smash.<br /><br /></div><div>After the change in ends, Sindhu committed a couple of unforced errors and Li too produced a down the line smash to narrow it down to 10-11.<br /><br /></div><div>Sindhu once again distanced herself from Li, reaching 16-11 after dominating the fast-paced rallies. With Li hitting wide and at the net, Sindhu reached 18-11. Li continued to fight and grabbed a few points before Sindhu managed to reach the match point at 20-16 after a deceptive tap at the nets. Sindhu lost a point before smashing her way to the pre-quarterfinals.</div></div></div></div>
<div><div><div><div>In one of the biggest upsets for the Indian Olympic contingent, medal hope Saina Nehwal crashed out of the Rio Games but Kidambi Srikanth and P V Sindhu kept India afloat by advancing to the pre-quarterfinals of the badminton event here today.<br /><br /></div><div>The London Olympics bronze medallist and world no. 5, Saina had inflammation on her right knee and lost 18-21 19-21 to World No. 61 Maria Ulitina of Ukraine in her second Group G match that lasted 39 minutes at the pavillion 4 Riocentre.<br /><br /></div><div>In Group M women's singles, Sindhu, however, managed to eke out a 19-21 21-15 21-17 win over Glasgow Commonwealth Games champion Li Michelle in a gruelling 72-minute match.<br /><br /></div><div>In men's singles, Srikanth, a former World No 3, defeated Sweden's Henri Hurskainen 21-6 21-18 in the second match of group H that lasted 34 minutes here to enter the knockout stage.<br /><br /></div><div>The 21-year-old Sindhu played a lot of drops at the backhand of Li but the Canada shuttler was up for it. After a tough fight, Sindhu managed a slender 11-10 lead at the break in the opening game. After the breather, the duo continued to fight for each point before a onrushing Li pushed the shuttle at the backcourt of Sindhu to pocket the first game.<br /><br /></div><div>The second game was no different as both the shuttler fought tooth and nail before Sindhu entered the break at 11-8. The Indian continued her good run and surged to a 18-13 lead and then reached the game point with a powerful smash. She eventually roared back to contest when Li found the net.<br /><br /></div><div>After lagging 1-3 in the decider, Sindhu turned the tables at 6-5. A couple of taps from Li going to the net meant Sindhu led 8-5. A deceptive net play and a judgement error by Li took Sindhu to 10-5, before the Indian entered the interval with a 11-7 lead after Li didn't have answer to her powerful smash.<br /><br /></div><div>After the change in ends, Sindhu committed a couple of unforced errors and Li too produced a down the line smash to narrow it down to 10-11.<br /><br /></div><div>Sindhu once again distanced herself from Li, reaching 16-11 after dominating the fast-paced rallies. With Li hitting wide and at the net, Sindhu reached 18-11. Li continued to fight and grabbed a few points before Sindhu managed to reach the match point at 20-16 after a deceptive tap at the nets. Sindhu lost a point before smashing her way to the pre-quarterfinals.</div></div></div></div>