Hong Kong, Dec 12 (IANS) India’s Saina Nehwal clinched her fourth Super Series title and third of the year as she overcame a fighting Shixian Wang of China 15-21, 21-16, 21-17 in a marathon encounter to win the Hong Kong Open Super Series here Sunday.
The World No.4 and second seeded Saina beat the Asian Games gold medallist in a an hour and 11 minute slugfest at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium.
For Saina, the win was her fifth title of the year, which includes three Super Series victories and Commonwealth Games gold.
Earlier, she won three back-to-back tournament in Indian Open, Singapore Open and Indonesia Open Super Series in June.
‘I can’t believe it. It a very good win for me. She has been in really good form this season. I am happy that I could beat her,’ an elated Saina said.
‘I was nervous after losing the first game but the match turned in my favour after the second game. In the third game, my target was to maintain the lead and I was successful in doing that.’
The victory was a revenge for Saina as she had lost to Shixian in the World Championship quarterfinal in their first meeting earlier this year.
‘She beat me in the World Championships this year so it was always going to be a tough match. With the win, I proved it is not impossible to beat the Chinese. The confidence is the key factor in defeating them.’
Saina said that the victory is also special as it came after her disappointing loss in the the Asian Games in Guangzhou where she was favourite to win the singles title but went down to Yip Pui Yin in the quarters.
The Indian avenged her defeat against the Hong Kong player in the quarterfinal of this tournament.
‘The win here is special since I was dissappointed after my quarterfinal loss at the Asian Games. But I forgot about it and wanted to win it here.’
