Saina Nehwal lost against Carolina Marin in the finals of the world badminton championship and had to be satisfied with a silver medal. The Indian shuttler was completely outplayed as the world number one clinched the title in straight sets, 21-16 and 21-19.
The final produced some magical moments in the game and Marin's game at the net was top class and Saina was not able to cope with it. Even when Saina looked comfortable in the second set, Marin's defense helped her comeback and win the second set.
That is all from here.
2:00: It could have been India's national anthem had Saina Nehwal won her first gold medal, but we should not complain for the Indian shuttler has played an important role in placing India women in world badminton.
However, one needs to salute Saina Nehwal for her amazing performance in the championship.
1:59:The national anthem of Spain is played.
1:56: Marin is all smiles with her gold medal.
1:55: Saina receives the silver medal and the disappointment of missing out the gold medal looms large on her face.
1:52: Marin deserved the title as she overpowered Saina in all departments of the game.
CONGRATULATIONS Carolina Marin
1:49:Carolina Marin defends her world championship title, takes the second set 21-19
1:47: 1:45: Saina trail 19-20
1:44: One point away from the tile. Saina trail, 18-20.
1:43: Saina leads 18-17, but Marin has made her run all around the court for this point and Marin's smash draws level again, 18-18. Marin holds the egde.
1:42: Marin draws level, 17-17 as the Indian hits it wide.
1:40: Saina forcing errors from Marin, Saina leads 17-15.
1:38: Marin's error at the net hands Saina a point, 16-14, but comes back with a thumping smash, Saina lead 16-15.
1:36: Saina lead 15:13, but what defense by Marin, top class. Saina has to up her game a notch to win the set.
1:35: My goodness!!! what quality from both the players. 13-13. Saina with a powerful smash.
1:34: One has to stand up and applaud Marin, seven straight points, leads13-12.
1:33: Marin coming back super strong and produces a point of the match with both players showing their defensive act to the hilt. 12-12.
1:31: Marin looking dangerous, four straight points. Saina lead, 12-10. Marin's speed a major concern for Saina.
1:30: Shot of the match - Marin hits a cross court smash and Saina, who is caught napping lead 12-8. Marin comes back again and makes it a three point gap 12-9.
1:29: Marin wants to draw Saina to the net and Saina is pushing her back. This is what quality players bring to the final, Saina lead 12-7.
1:27: We are midway in the second set and the score reads 11-7. Better performance by Saina Nehwal, who enjoys a four point advantage.
1:25: Ah!!!!the quality of the rally - top class, which is finished off by Saina with a powerful smash down the line, 9-5. Saina has a 4 point advantage, makes it 5. 10-5
1:24: Saina opens up three point lead, 8-5.
1 :22:Nehwal lead 5-4 and increases lead to 6-4 after Marin smashes at the net. Marin comes back as she is once again dominating at the net.
1:20: Marin commits service fault, 4-2. Body smash from Marin wins her a point, Sain lead 4-3.
1:19: 3-1 Saina lead, after Marin makes an error on the line and the Spaniard comes back with a cross court smash. Saina lead 3-2.
1:17: Saina takes the first point, 1-0 and another as well, 2-0. Marin commits two unforced errors.
1:16 Second set starts
1:15: Saina needs to be strong at the net in the second set.
1:14: Masterclass by Saina, who has pulled back strongly, three points in succession, trail 20-16, but loses the set as another net shot helps Marin clinch the first set 21-16.
1:12 Saina's body language not looking good, as she trails 20-13
1:11: Marin opens up five point lead, 18-13.
1:10: Saina has been spot on with her challenges, comes back strongly, 13-16.
1:08 Body smash from Saina, who needs to be agressive, trail 12-16.
1:06: Marin lead 16-10, once again at the net, Saina looking second best.
1:04 Saina losing at the net, Marin is scoring points , quite easily, Saina trail 9-15, 6 points lead.
1:03: Saina has to pull back now, trail by 5 points. 8-13
1:01: Longest rally of the match finished by Saina's smash, 11-8, and Marin takes control at the net again, 12-8.
1pm: Saina needs to keep her unforced errors in check as Marin has come back brilliantly with some deft touches. Saina trail 11-7. The crowd seems to be favouring the Spaniard.
12:58: Saina trail 7-8 after a wide net play and again hits it long. 7-9.
12:56: Marin hits an over head shot long 7-5, but comes up with a amazing controlled smash on the line. 7-6.
12:55: The game has been very intriguing at the net so far. Saina lead 6-5.
12 54: Saina has started well, takes 6-4 lead. Saina is attacking both at the net as well as the back end of the court.
12 53: Awesome defense followed by an amazing net play. Saina lead 4-2. The match has already produced some amazing shots as Marin comes up with a nice drop shot. 4-3.
12 51: Winner from Saina - smash, but Marin comes back to take 2-1 lead after a beautiful angled shot.
12:50: Long rally first up. Marin 1-0
12:50: Here it goes:
12:48: Saina's record in 2015 - 24 wins and 5 losses.
Career Record - 309-124
12:46: Both the players have walked onto the court.
12:45: Can the world championship get any better? World number one takes one world number two Carolina Marin vs Saina Nehwal.
12:40: We are just minutes away from the women's singles final.
12: 35: The champions of the mixed doubles title - China's Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei - showing off their medals.
12: 32: Prize distribution ceremony for the mixed doubles competition.
12: 30: Just recollecting the All England open final played earlier in the year between Saina and Marin, which saw the Indian shuttler dominate first set, but was outclassed by current world number in the next two sets.
What is in store for the world championship finals this time?
12 :26: Okay fellas, the first final is over. China's Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei has won the prestigious mixed doubles title.
12 24: With around 30 minutes or so remaining for the second final, let us remember Indian shuttlers, who brought glory to India by winning a medal in the world championship.
Prakash Padukone - Bronze in 1983 (Men's Singles)
Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa - Bronze in 2011 (Women's doubles)
PV Sindhu - Bronze in 2013 and 2014 (Women's Singles)
12:12: Though cricket might be India's number one sport, it is heartening to see massive support for Saina Nehwal in the social media. Even celebs are coming out to support of India's pride in badminton.
12:05: Meanwhile, the mixed doubles final has really been an entertaining one with Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei having taken the first set, which also means we are inching closer to Saina vs Marin final.
12:01pm: The top two ranked players in the world -- Saina and Marin -- have played a huge role in ending Chinese dominance in the women's circuit. None of the Chinese shuttlers made it to the last four of the 2015 World Badminton Championship.
11:55: Saina Nehwal, who has won a number of titles including an Olympic medal, will be gunning for gold in the championship. However, Carolina Marin, who is the defending champion and the current world number one, stands as a huge obstacle.
11:40: The first final of the world championship is set to start with two Chinese pairs fighting for the gold medal in the mixed doubles competition, which will be followed by Saina Nehwal vs Carolina Marin final.
11 30am: The countdown begins as Saina Nehwal vs Carolina Marin is expected to kickstart in the next hour or so.
After some high-voltage action in the 2015 World Badminton Championship, we have reached the last day of the competition, where top shuttlers will be in action for the prestigious gold medal.
The women's singles will be a repeat of the All England Open final, which took place earlier in the year between India's Saina Nehwal and Spaniard Carolina Marin, who walked away with the coveted trophy.
However, Saina, who is aiming for her maiden world championship title, has looked in brilliant form during the competition and is expected to give a tough fight to the top seed and defending world champion Carolina Marin.
Marin has not been on top of her form as expected, as she has been stretched to three sets a few times already in the world championship this year. But the Spaniard loves the big stage and will bring her A class game against Saina Nehwal, who holds a better head-to-head record.
Head-to-Head
Saina Nehwal – 3, Carolina Marin – 1
Last Meeting - Yonex All England Open Final
Carolina Marin defeated Saina Nehwal - 21-16, 14-21 and 7-21.
Can Carolina Marin improve her record with Saina Nehwal and defend her crown? Or will Saina Nehwal spring a surprise by winning her first world championship, or falter, as she did in the All England Open Final? These questions will be answered in the next few hours, with the women's singles final expected to start at around 12:45pm IST.
