Saina Nehwal vs Carolina Marin Live Badminton Score: Nehwal takes on Marin in the semi-final of the 2019 Malaysia Masters. The two shuttlers hold a 5-5 head-to-head record, heading into the battle.
Sports Desk: Welcome to our Live coverage of the Malaysia Masters semi-final between Saina Nehwal and Carolina Marin. Two of the finest women’s shuttlers in business, Nehwal and Marin, are set vying for a spot in the final in what is the first major tournament of the year. With an eye on the first title of 2019, Marin and Saina face off in what could be a gruelling contest in Kuala Lumpur. Saina remains the only Indian shuttler in the contest after Kidambi Srikanth faced elimination in a 3-setter quarter-final against Son Wan Ho of South Korea.
Malaysia Masters 2019 Women’s Singles Semi-final: Saina Nehwal vs Carolina Marin, Live Badminton Score –
10: 33 IST: Watanabe/Higashino, the Japanese pair, wins the third set 21-14 to take the game. We should have the Marin vs Nehwal match starting soon on the same court. Stay tuned for the live updates.
10: 30 IST: The Malaysian pair is trailing against the Japanese by 6 points. The battle could soon see be after after the third set emerged as the most closely-fought, as compared to the first two. As the mixed doubles semi-final concludes, we’ll see the Saina Nehwal vs Carolina Marin battle take place.
10: 20 IST: The third and deciding clash in the Mixed Doubles semi-final is underway after the Chan/Goh pairing won the second set 21-7. It’s been a more closely-fought battle in the third set so far. Still some time for the women’s singles semi-final to start.
10: 10 IST: The pairing of Chan/Goh is set to take the second set, which means that the semi-final fixture will see a deciding third set too. The Marin – Saina fixture, hence is likely to be delayed by a few minutes. The scheduled time for its start was 10:10 AM as per Indian time.
10: 00 IST: Watanabe Y. / Higashino A. have won the first set 21-15 but are trailing in the second set 1-4. Their opponents Chan P. S. / Goh L. Y. aren’t expected to let the Japanese pair sail away with a win that easily. Stay tuned for live updates as we await the start of Sindhu vs Marin women’s singles semi-final.
09: 50 IST: The first contest of the day – mixed doubles semi-final – has already started with Watanabe Y./Higashino A. in lead. If the match finishes in a 2-setter, the Nehwal vs Marin battle shouldn’t be delayed. Saina, meanwhile, is the only Indian shuttler left in the contest after Srikanth’s elimination in the last 8.
09: 40 IST: The Carolina Marin vs Saina Nehwal clash is expected to start at 10:10 AM IST. The fixture has been listed as the second of the day, after the mixed doubles clash between Watanabe Y/Higashino A and Chan PS /Goh LY which will start at 9:35 AM IST. Stay tuned for live updates!
Although Saina claimed a victory over Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in straight sets, the quarter-final clash for Saina wasn’t the most comfortable. She had to come from behind in both the sets – 9-15 and 14-18 – to eventually win the contest 21-18 23-21. Marin, meanwhile, had a comparatively easier game, winning her battle against YIP Pui Yin 21-14, 21-16.
The previous battle between Saina and Sindhu saw the Spaniard secure a 21-6, 21-11 victory over the Indian in the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Championships. The win put their head-to-head record at 5-5, while Saina would look to move into the lead again after today’s clash.
In terms of the strategy, Marin has the perfect opponent in the form of Nehwal who is often got the aggressive Spanish shuttler lose her tempo by making her run all across the court. But with her opponent yet to drop a single set in the tournament, Saina heads into the fixture as the lesser favourite of the two.
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