Saina storms into Indonesia Open quarters

Jakarta :

Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal has become World No 3, highest ranking by an Indian woman, after last week's triumph in Singapore.

Currently, she is playing in the Indonesian Open quarters where she's the defending champion, and her ranking can get even better if she continues her victory march this week.

The 20-year-old top-seed, who won the Singapore Open last week, defeated Bulgaria's Petya Nedelcheva 21-12, 21-17 in just 29 minutes to continue her unbeaten run of the past two weeks.

The Indian stuck to her strategy of engaging her opponents in long rallies and out of the 33 that were played in the opening game, Saina outwitted Nedelcheva on 21 occassions to go one up.

The second game was a closer affair as Nedelcheva clawed her way back but Saina quelled the late challenge to wrap it up under half an hour.

She will now be up against the winner of the other pre-quarterfinal between Russian Ella Diehl and local favourite Maria Febe Kusumastuti.

Before winning the Singapore Open last week, Saina had clinched the India Open Grand Prix title.

If she goes the whole hog this week as well, Saina would add a third Super Series title to her kitty.