Sai beats Lohaynny

Rio de Janeiro, Aug 11 : Ace Indian shuttler Sai Nehwal beat local hope Vicente Lohaynny 21-17, 21-17 in her opening Group C match in the women singles event here on Thursday. Sai got a tough competition from the Brazilian shuttler. Lohaynny being 5-9 down, fought back levelling the game at 10-10. sai just edged past the mid-game interval with a one point lead.

The 20-year-old local hope then fought neck-to-neck with the former world No.1. At 17-17 level, the Indian took four points on the trot and clinched the first game 21-17 in a well-battled 20 minutes. In the early minutes of the second game, Sai started to build her domince in the court taking a 11-5 lead to the mid-game interval.

In the later half of the second game, the Brazlian tried to fight back, but Sai continued to domite and taking three points on the trot, securing herself with seven match points before she took the second game 21-17 in 19 minutes.

Sai will be playing her next match on Sunday against Maria Uliti of Ukraine. IANS