Saina vs Marin, BWF World Championships Final: Live Scores

Saina Nehwal, the world number two takes on defending champion and world number one Carolina Marin of Spain in the final of the World Badminton Championship in Jakarta on Sunday. Catch live updates here:

Saina Nehwal is the first Indian to play the World Badminton Championship final

© AFP

Saina Nehwal is one win away from her ultimate dream of winning a world championship final. The Indian badminton ace will take on world number one Carolina Marin of Spain in Jakarta today after becoming the first Indian to reach the World Badminton Championship final.

Saina and her coach Vimal Kumar have repeatedly said that conquering Grand Prix is fine but the real achievements lie in winning Olympic golds and world championships. This is a golden opportunity for Saina to nail gold.

On Saturday, World No. 2 Saina notched up a 21-17, 21-17 win over Indonesia’s Lindaweni Fanetri, who was struggling with her right knee, in the semifinals of the women’s singles. (Saina Rates World Badminton Semifinal as One of Her Toughest Matches)

Saina had played Marin in the final of the All England Championship earlier this year. It was the Spaniard who had come out on top but Saina is not unduly worried. “I just want to do well on Sunday. With Carolina Marin in the final, it will be tricky. She has some fast-paced strokes. It will be a different match compared to the All England final since the conditions are different,” she said.

Carolina Marin has won just one out of three contests vs Saina

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Saina vs Marin: Head-to-Head

The two women have played each other four times and Saina has won three out of those contests. Here is a look at those clashes:

Indonesia Open Quarterfinals, 2013: Saina won 21-16, 21-19

Australian Open Final, 2014: Saina won 21-18, 21-11

Syed Modi GP, 2015: Saina won 21-19, 23-25, 21-16

All England Final, 2015: Marin won 16-21, 21-14, 21-7

Key Facts

– Prakash Padukone was the first Indian to win a bronze at the 1983 edition. Like Saina, Padukone had also come across an Indonesian in the semis. However, he could not overcome Icuk Sugiarto

-This will be India’s fifth medal at the World Championship since its inception in 1977. P. V. Sindhu clinched the bronze twice in 2013 and 2014 and Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa notched up a bronze in women’s doubles at the 2011 edition. Saina is assured of at least a silver in 2015

Road to the Final

Saina Nehwal

– Beat Chinese Taipei’s Cheung Ngan Yi 21-13, 21-9 to reach Round 3

– Beat Japan’s 14th seed Sayaka Takahashi 21-18, 21-14 to enter quarters

– Beat Wang Yihan of China 21-15, 19-21, 21-19 to reach semis

– Beat Indonesia’s Lindaweni Fanetri 21-17, 21-17 to enter title clash

Carolina Marin

– Beat Jing Yi Tee 19-21, 21-14, 21-13 to reach Round 3

– Beat Yu Po Pai 21-11, 18-21, 21-17 to enter quarters

– Beat Shixian Wang 21-17, 21-19 to reach semis

– Beat Ji Hyun Sung 21-17, 15-21, 21-16 enter title clash