<p> Saina Nehwal today settled for a bronze medal as her impressive run at the World Championship came to an end after a heart-breaking loss against Rio Olympics bronze medallist Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in the women's singles semifinals here.<br /><br />Saina, who had won a silver medal two years ago at Jakarta, gave everything in a battle of attrition but Okuhara's never-say-die attitude helped her to outmanoeuvre the Indian in an energy-sapping semifinal clash at the Emirates Arena.<br /><br />After battling for an hour and 14 minutes, it was the World No. 12 Japanese who managed to eke out a come-from- behind 12-21 21-17 21-10 win over the Indian to become the first shuttler from her country to reach the finals of World Championship.<br /><br />Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu is the only remaining hope for India at the World Championship. She will take on ninth seed Chinese Chen Yufei in another semifinal later in the day.<br /><br />It turned out to be a battle of attrition between Saina and Okuhara. The two players have met seven times so far in international badminton with Saina having an upper hand in six of those battles.<br /><br />The Japanese tried to engage Saina in fast-paced rallies, which were mixed with down-the-line smashes and cross-court angled returns, sandwitched by deceptive drops. A pumped up Saina returned everything thrown at her and came up with the perfect clears to close out the rallies.<br /><br />The Indian tried to put her rival out of position with her deceptive returns and it helped as she led 9-3 in the opening game, before entering the interval at 11-5 when Okuhara could not return her angled smash and found the net.<br /><br />Okuhara's fast-paced game did not yield much result early on as Saina fortified her defence and continued to dominate the rallies to lead 17-10. Okuhara lost a video referral next as Saina led 18-10. The Japanese displayed a good net game to grab two points but Saina's small deception took a toil on her rival.<br /><br />Another electrifying rally ended with Okuhara finding the net as Saina reached eight game points. The Indian then unleashed a body smash to close out the opening game.<br /><br />After the change of sides, Saina failed to reach for a couple of forecourt returns, helping Okuhara opened up a 4-0 lead early on. The Japanese extended the advantage to 8-4 but she had a few wide strokes and Saina exploited the opportunity to unleash her trademark cross court smashes to claw her way back to 9-9.<br /><br />However, Okuhara managed to grab a slender 11-10 lead with a cross court net flick which Saina failed to negotiate.<br /><br />After the break, Okuhara seemed to vary the pace and Saina too faltered with a forehand and backhand return which helped the Japanese take a 14-11 lead.<br /><br />Saina, however, kept breathing down Okuhara's neck, making it 15-15 when the Japanese found the net and also hit long. Okuhara conceded a point with a service error but a judgement error from Saina at the baseline again gave the Japanese a slender 17-16 lead.<br /><br />Saina produced a down-the-line smash to level par, while Okuhara unleashed an onrushing backhand flick to lead 18-17 and then an overhead return took her to 19-17.<br /><br />Saina's smash then missed the sideline to hand over three game points to the Japanese, who sealed it with a cross court return which found the Indian napping.<br /><br />In the decider, Saina grabbed an early 3-1 lead but Okuhara soon started dominating the rallies. It resulted in five straight points and the Japanese took a 6-3 lead. Two wide shots and a low lift getting buried at net from Saina ensured that Okuhara continued to gather points, reaching 10- 3.<br /><br />Saina's trademark down-the-line smash then once again came to her rescue as she snapped the run of points but Okuhara had a seven-point advantage at the break when the Indian faltered with her net dribble.<br /><br />Okuhara continued to accumulate points, sometimes using her disguise at the net. Saina periodically managed to win a point here and there but she could not stop the Japanese who led 16-7 at one stage.<br /><br />Saina kept fighting but she looked a tad sluggish with her movements and lacked precision in final moments as Okuhara managed to move to 19-9.<br /><br />Saina hit wide again to hand over 11 match point opportunities to Okuhara. The Indian saved one with a drop but the Japanese sealed the issue with another precise return at the baseline.</p>
<p> Saina Nehwal today settled for a bronze medal as her impressive run at the World Championship came to an end after a heart-breaking loss against Rio Olympics bronze medallist Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in the women's singles semifinals here.<br /><br />Saina, who had won a silver medal two years ago at Jakarta, gave everything in a battle of attrition but Okuhara's never-say-die attitude helped her to outmanoeuvre the Indian in an energy-sapping semifinal clash at the Emirates Arena.<br /><br />After battling for an hour and 14 minutes, it was the World No. 12 Japanese who managed to eke out a come-from- behind 12-21 21-17 21-10 win over the Indian to become the first shuttler from her country to reach the finals of World Championship.<br /><br />Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu is the only remaining hope for India at the World Championship. She will take on ninth seed Chinese Chen Yufei in another semifinal later in the day.<br /><br />It turned out to be a battle of attrition between Saina and Okuhara. The two players have met seven times so far in international badminton with Saina having an upper hand in six of those battles.<br /><br />The Japanese tried to engage Saina in fast-paced rallies, which were mixed with down-the-line smashes and cross-court angled returns, sandwitched by deceptive drops. A pumped up Saina returned everything thrown at her and came up with the perfect clears to close out the rallies.<br /><br />The Indian tried to put her rival out of position with her deceptive returns and it helped as she led 9-3 in the opening game, before entering the interval at 11-5 when Okuhara could not return her angled smash and found the net.<br /><br />Okuhara's fast-paced game did not yield much result early on as Saina fortified her defence and continued to dominate the rallies to lead 17-10. Okuhara lost a video referral next as Saina led 18-10. The Japanese displayed a good net game to grab two points but Saina's small deception took a toil on her rival.<br /><br />Another electrifying rally ended with Okuhara finding the net as Saina reached eight game points. The Indian then unleashed a body smash to close out the opening game.<br /><br />After the change of sides, Saina failed to reach for a couple of forecourt returns, helping Okuhara opened up a 4-0 lead early on. The Japanese extended the advantage to 8-4 but she had a few wide strokes and Saina exploited the opportunity to unleash her trademark cross court smashes to claw her way back to 9-9.<br /><br />However, Okuhara managed to grab a slender 11-10 lead with a cross court net flick which Saina failed to negotiate.<br /><br />After the break, Okuhara seemed to vary the pace and Saina too faltered with a forehand and backhand return which helped the Japanese take a 14-11 lead.<br /><br />Saina, however, kept breathing down Okuhara's neck, making it 15-15 when the Japanese found the net and also hit long. Okuhara conceded a point with a service error but a judgement error from Saina at the baseline again gave the Japanese a slender 17-16 lead.<br /><br />Saina produced a down-the-line smash to level par, while Okuhara unleashed an onrushing backhand flick to lead 18-17 and then an overhead return took her to 19-17.<br /><br />Saina's smash then missed the sideline to hand over three game points to the Japanese, who sealed it with a cross court return which found the Indian napping.<br /><br />In the decider, Saina grabbed an early 3-1 lead but Okuhara soon started dominating the rallies. It resulted in five straight points and the Japanese took a 6-3 lead. Two wide shots and a low lift getting buried at net from Saina ensured that Okuhara continued to gather points, reaching 10- 3.<br /><br />Saina's trademark down-the-line smash then once again came to her rescue as she snapped the run of points but Okuhara had a seven-point advantage at the break when the Indian faltered with her net dribble.<br /><br />Okuhara continued to accumulate points, sometimes using her disguise at the net. Saina periodically managed to win a point here and there but she could not stop the Japanese who led 16-7 at one stage.<br /><br />Saina kept fighting but she looked a tad sluggish with her movements and lacked precision in final moments as Okuhara managed to move to 19-9.<br /><br />Saina hit wide again to hand over 11 match point opportunities to Okuhara. The Indian saved one with a drop but the Japanese sealed the issue with another precise return at the baseline.</p>