World Badminton Championship Final Highlights: Saina Nehwal Loses to Carolina Marin

Saina Nehwal, the world number two, was outclassed despite a brave fight, by world number one Carolina Marin of Spain. The Indian lost 16-21, 19-21. Following are the highlights from the match.

* It's all over. Carolina beats Saina and falls to the floor in sheer delight. She takes a moment to get up - soaking in the moment of glory.

Tough luck #sainanehwal .. #firstsilverever proud moment for badminton in India!!!

- Gutta Jwala (@Guttajwala) August 16, 2015

* Carolina gets the championship point. What an epic fightback from the Spaniard after trailing in the 2nd game.

* Carolina once again takes the lead - it can prove to be lethal at 19-18!

* It's back to level peggings with Carolina clawing her way to make it 17-17. This is what legendary badminton duels are made of!

* Saina holding onto her slender lead - just about. She has a 16-14 advantage.

* It is all level at 12-12 now. The momentum has once again shifted towards the Spaniard. She has collected seven of the last nine points.

* Carolina picks three points to cut Saina's lead to just two points. It's 12-10 to the Indian at the moment.

* Spanish fans here are urging other supporters to join them in cheering Carolina. The red and yellow hues seem to be making more noise but there's a fair share of Indians here as well.

* Saina now has the upper- hand - for the first time in the match. She has created a five-point lead and is 10-5 ahead. The screams and fist pumps from the opponent have come down quite dramatically! As for Saina, she is as reserved and composed as ever.

* Saina has opened up a 4-2 lead in the 2nd game. She is moving a lot quicker than she was in the 1st game - she has to to match up to Carolina.

* Carolina takes the first game 21-16 against Saina in 29 minutes. She began on a slightly slow note but once she overtook the Indian, she hardly looked back. Can Saina stage a comeback in the second game?

* It will take a herculean effort for Saina to save the 1st game now. She now trails by six points vs Carolina (13-19).

* The noise from enthusiasts in the stands is just deafening. Even for experienced campaigners like Saina and Carolina - it much be quite intimidating.

* Saina now trying to pump herself up as well. 'Come on' she tells herself - quite audibly at that.

* Saina's expression slightly gives away a sense of despair. The constant attacks from the other end of the court is showing on the scoreboard - Spaniard leads 15-10.

* The fist pumps keep coming from the World No. 1 as she now leads 12-8.

* The Spaniard now has opened up a dangerous 11-7 gap between her and Saina. She seems to have worked out a plan against Saina but the Indian is known to hit back hard when the chips are down.

* Carolina now has the lead with the scoreline reading 8-7. Saina is hardly as expressive as her opponent but looks intent on fighting back.

* Saina is known to study her opponents before switching to top gear. Today though it seems she has chosen to come out all guns blazing right from the start. She is making Carolina do the hard work of hunting for the shuttle.

* Both players are preferring to rely on drop shots more than the flicks or smashes in the early stages of the match. It's 6-4 to Saina at the moment.

* Saina opens up a 4-2 lead in the first game against a pumped up Carolina who is screaming her joy after each win - that's how much it means to grab every point against the Indian.

* Carolina has the first serve of the match.

* Saina and Carolina walk out to a huge reception from fans here. What a fantastic moment for both superstars of world badminton. It's time for the World No. 2 to take on World No. 1 - someone she has beaten three out of four times.

* Nan Zhang and Yunlei Zhao of China beat Yixin Bao and Liu Cheng of China 21-17, 21-11 to win the mixed doubles title in the World Badminton Championships. Saina Nehwal's much anticipated match against Carolina Marin to start shortly.

Saina Nehwal is the first Indian to play the World Badminton Championship final

© AFP

Saina Nehwal is one win away from her ultimate dream of winning a world championship final. The Indian badminton ace will take on world number one Carolina Marin of Spain in Jakarta today after becoming the first Indian to reach the World Badminton Championship final.

Saina and her coach Vimal Kumar have repeatedly said that conquering Grand Prix is fine but the real achievements lie in winning Olympic golds and world championships. This is a golden opportunity for Saina to nail gold.

On Saturday, World No. 2 Saina notched up a 21-17, 21-17 win over Indonesia's Lindaweni Fanetri, who was struggling with her right knee, in the semifinals of the women's singles. (Saina Rates World Badminton Semifinal as One of Her Toughest Matches)

Saina had played Marin in the final of the All England Championship earlier this year. It was the Spaniard who had come out on top but Saina is not unduly worried. "I just want to do well on Sunday. With Carolina Marin in the final, it will be tricky. She has some fast-paced strokes. It will be a different match compared to the All England final since the conditions are different," she said.

Carolina Marin has won just one out of three contests vs Saina

© AFP

Saina vs Marin: Head-to-Head

The two women have played each other four times and Saina has won three out of those contests. Here is a look at those clashes:

Indonesia Open Quarterfinals, 2013: Saina won 21-16, 21-19

Australian Open Final, 2014: Saina won 21-18, 21-11

Syed Modi GP, 2015: Saina won 21-19, 23-25, 21-16

All England Final, 2015: Marin won 16-21, 21-14, 21-7

Key Facts

- Prakash Padukone was the first Indian to win a bronze at the 1983 edition. Like Saina, Padukone had also come across an Indonesian in the semis. However, he could not overcome Icuk Sugiarto

-This will be India's fifth medal at the World Championship since its inception in 1977. P. V. Sindhu clinched the bronze twice in 2013 and 2014 and Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa notched up a bronze in women's doubles at the 2011 edition. Saina is assured of at least a silver in 2015

Road to the Final

Saina Nehwal

- Beat Chinese Taipei's Cheung Ngan Yi 21-13, 21-9 to reach Round 3

- Beat Japan's 14th seed Sayaka Takahashi 21-18, 21-14 to enter quarters

- Beat Wang Yihan of China 21-15, 19-21, 21-19 to reach semis

- Beat Indonesia's Lindaweni Fanetri 21-17, 21-17 to enter title clash

Carolina Marin

- Beat Jing Yi Tee 19-21, 21-14, 21-13 to reach Round 3

- Beat Yu Po Pai 21-11, 18-21, 21-17 to enter quarters

- Beat Shixian Wang 21-17, 21-19 to reach semis

- Beat Ji Hyun Sung 21-17, 15-21, 21-16 enter title clash