World number three Nehwal lost 8-21 21-8 19-18 to the last edition's silver medallist in a fiercely fought quarter-final match, which lasted 46 minutes.
Saina Nehwal conceded that she had problems with her footwork after world number 12 Yip Pui Yin of Hong Kong brought the curtains down on the Indian ace's campaign in singles badminton event of the Asian Games Guangzhou today.
World number three Nehwal lost 8-21 21-8 19-18 to the last edition's silver medallist in a fiercely fought quarter-final match, which lasted 46 minutes.
"My feet were not moving as well as I had expected them to," Nehwal said after her shock defeat at the hands of a player she defeated in the 2009 French Open Super Series.
In their first meeting in 2007, it was the Hong Kong girl who had prevailed. After this victory Pui leads 2-1.
Nehwal's tie didn't start as per the scheduled time as the matches played before that on the same court finished way beyond the scheduled time.
Nehwal was carrying millions of hopes on her shoulders after the other Indians in the fray crashed out of their respective events early in the day.
Second seed Nehwal came back well after surrendering the opening game but her weak net-play, in comparison to her sixth seed rival, dented her chances severely.
The Indian saved a match point in the decisive game but a service error at crucial 19-20 stage sealed her fate.
Both the players fought their hearts out in the third and final game. Even till the deep end the scores were tied 18-18.
Yip attacked Nehwal's backhand throughout the match and earned her first match point with the same strategy with a smash winner.
Nehwal managed to save that and got her service back but unforced error on the next point brought curtains on her campaign.
At Beijing Olympics also Saina had lost at the same quarter-final stage.
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