London Olympics: Saina cruises into knock-out stage, Jwala-Ponnappa too keep their hopes alive

India's ace shuttler Saina Nehwal cruised into the knockout stage of the women's singles competition after notching up a comfortable straight-game win over Belgium's Lianne Tan in a group stage match on Monday, says a report in The Times Of India, adding that the world number five Indian did not need to exert herself and was in complete control of the match as she saw off the Belgium girl 21-4, 21-14 in just 24 minutes at the Wembley arena.

The fourth seed Indian is likely to take on Chinese-born Yao Jie of The Netherlands, ranked 20th in the world, in the knockout stage.

Meanwhile a Deccan Herald report says that Saina Nehwal romped into the knockout stage of women's singles competition, while Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa also kept their hopes alive in the women's doubles event after recording contrasting victories in their respective groups here today.

Saina, ranked fifth in the world, was in no difficulty at all as she brushed aside the challenge of Belgium's Lianne Tan with a straight 21-4, 21-14 scoreline in a group E match which lasted just 27 minutes.

Later in the evening, Commonwealth Games gold medallist pair of Jwala and Ashwini also set the Wembly arena ablaze when they stunned world number 10 Yu Chin Chien and Wen Hsing Cheng of Chinese Taipei 25-23 16-21 21-18 in a Group B roundrobin match here.

On consolidating after taking the first game 21-4, Saina said: "I had to play it safe in the second game. One side is a bit faster so I had to be cautious to keep it in."

"Sometimes it is too much in India. I understand it is the love of the country and I want to live up to expectations, but I have to remain focused," she said.