Thailand Open: Saina defeats Porntip to reach final

Bangkok: Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal defeated Thai Porntip Buranaprasertsuk 24-22, 21-11 in straight sets to enter the finals of the ongoing Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold badminton event here Saturday.

The world No.5 took 42 minutes to get the better of 17th-ranked Buranaprasertsuk in the semifinals. Saina faces another Thai Ratchanok Inthanon in the summit clash Sunday.

World No.11 Inthanon beat Lin Wang of China 21-13, 21-19 in the other semifinal encounter.

Top seed Saina did most of the hard work in the first game, staging a remarkable fightback after trailing 2-9. She also saved three game points before converting her first one.

The tables turned in the second game as Saina took a 9-3 lead and raced to victory. (IANS)