Beijing: Ace women shuttler Saina Nehwal kept alive India's medal hopes in badminton, moving in style into the pre-quarterfinals, on an otherwise gloomy second day of the Olympics on Sunday when the shooters, continuing their disappointing show, and archers crashed out of the competition.
Saina, country's best bet in badminton, soaked whatever her Ukrainian opponent Larysa Gryga threw at her before delivering the knockout punch to pocket her second round match 21-18, 21-10 in just 28 minutes in the women's singles event.
Playing under a laden sky at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium, the Indian took time to measure her opponent, whom she played for the first time, before pulling out all the stops to chalk out a convincing victory.
Saina's real test, however, begins now, for the Indian is set to lock horns on Monday with world number five and fourth seed Chen Wang of Hong Kong, someone she could not beat in her last two attempts.
"It's going to be tough, no question about that," Saina said after the second round match.
"We met twice so far and on all two occasions, she won. But at the same time, both the matches went right down to the wire, which means she had to break sweat getting past,” she added.
The dismal show by the shooters continued with Manavjit Singh Sandhu, World titleholder in trap event, wilting under pressure and compatriot Mansher Singh too failing to make it to the finals.
Tipped a medal prospect, Manavjit could manage only 116 our of 125 to finish 12th at the end of the five-round qualifying sessions spread over two days at the Beijing Shooting Range.
In comparison, Mansher did better, tallying 117 to finish eighth. Mansher in fact came close to qualifying for the finals but in the end, a place in the top six just proved elusive for him.
A dejected Manavjit later admitted he has not been at the best of his form this year and here too, he could not conjure up anything special.
"Unlike 2006 and 2007, I have not been in great form this year. I know people had expectations but form and fortune do fluctuate. I think there was no point coming here as anything but a contender," he said.
In archery, Indian women's team, comprising L Bombayla Devi, Dola Banerjee and Pranitha Vardhineni was done in by the inexperience of Vardhineni against a formidable China after going neck and neck initially.
Dejected archers and team manager KS Kang described it as a 'team failure'.
"We have beaten China more than once in recent past and hence it was quite disappointing to lose to them. We did not play to our potential today," Kang told PTI.
"It was not a match that we could not have won. A win was quite a possibility but things did not go according to our plan and the pressure of performing in Olympics, the biggest stage, got the better of us," he rued.
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