New Delhi: Saina Newhal was upset by Chinese qualifier Xin Wang 14-21, 10-21 in the quarter-finals of the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold badminton at Johar Bahru on Friday.
Second-seeded Saina, looking for back-to-back titles after her first Super Series victory in Indonesia last week, lost in 26 minutes to the unseeded Chinese, who accounted for her second top-rung international, having beaten sixth-seeded Japenese Ai Goto in the second round.
The Indian, who climbed one rung to World No.7 in the latest rankings on Thursday, clearly looked out of sorts after playing three games in the her two previous rounds. She could not fight back after losing the first game and lost the second tamely.
Wang will take on fourth seeded Malaysian Mew Choo Wong next while in the other semi-final, top- seeded Pi Hongyan of France will clash with another Chinese qualifier Shixian Wang.
Saina led 5-3 before Wang came back with four points to lead 7-5. They were tied 8-all from where Wang gave no chance to the Indian. Wang then took six points in a row to take the first game.
Saina was in a similar situation against Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon Thursday, but against Wang she could not stage a rally.
The Indian challenge ended in the mixed doubles,too, with top seed Diju Valiyaveetil and Jwala Gutta losing to Indonesian Hendra Aprida Gunawan and Vita Marissa 21-8, 14-21, 16-21.
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