Rio 2016 Badminton: Medal Hope Saina Nehwal Crashes Out, Sindhu, Srikanth Progress

In a massive upset, India's ace shuttler Saina Nehwal crashed out of the 2016 Rio Olympics after losing 18-21, 19-21 to Ukraine's Maria Ulitina in the women's singles group stage on Sunday.

Saina had won her first match Lohaynny Vicente of Brazil but the loss against the Ukranian shuttler ended Saina's dream of winning a second Olympic medal. She had won the bronze in 2012 London Olympics.

Only group winners progressed to the Round of 16 and Saina's loss in her second match meant that she finished second in Group G.

Saina looked totally rusty as she squandered an initial 6-1 lead to allow Maria to level the scores at 8-8.

The Indian, however, managed to enter the short break 11-9 in front with a drop, which Maria could not return.

Maria caught up again at 13-13 when Saina hit long. She infact took a slender lead at 16-15 and 17-16 as Saina struggled with her movement.

With Saina continuing to be sluggish, Maria reached 19-17 and then reached game point with a cross court smash, which caught Saina napping.

The Indian then hit wide to hand Maria the opening game.

In the second game, Maria used her height to good use as she hit some powerful and precise smashes, which Saina failed to negotiate. The Indian managed to stay ahead with a slender 11-10 lead at the break.

But Maria dominated the pace of the rallies even as Saina seemed restricted in her movement. The Ukraine player led 14-13.

The script didn't change much after that as Maria managed to reach match point with a cross court smash and then entered the Round of 16 with a lucky net chord.

Sindhu, Srikanth progress

Kidambi Srikanth lifted some gloom from India's sagging badminton campaign as he reached the men's singles pre-quarterfinals on Sunday in Rio.

Former World No. 3, Srikanth defeated Sweden's Henri Hurskainen 21-6 21-18 in the second match of group H that lasted 34 minutes.

Srikanth thus avenged his loss to Henri in 2014 Swiss Open. The World No. 11 Indian, who had won the 2014 China Open and 2015 India Open, stamped his authority with his strokes and also pushed his rival to make mistakes.

In women's singles, PV Sindhu too made it to the pre-quarterfinals after defeating Michelle Li of Canada 19-21, 21-15, 21-17.

Sindhu started well in the first game, but showed nerves to give away the lead to Li, who closed the game out at 21-19.

The Indian, shuttler, however, came back strongly to win the second game 21-15, and then took an early lead in the final game before winning it 21-17.

(With PTI Inputs)