Nehwal wins Chinese Taipei Open Grand Prix

Taipei, Sep 14 (UNI) Saina Nehwal outclassed Li Ya Lydia Cheah of Malaysia in straight sets to bag the Chinese Taipei Open Grand Prix Gold Championship here today.

The Hyderabad girl faced little resistance from her unseeded rival to win 21-8, 21-19.

After her creditable performance at the Beijing Olympics where she reached the quarterfinals, Saina has now added another feather to her cap. She has become the first Indian woman shuttler to win two Grand Prix championships.

The second seeded Indian was on the offensive from the start and gave no chance to her rival in the first game.

The Malaysian put up a better fight in the second game but Saina held her nerves to clinch the title.

''I guess this is perhaps my best performance so far. Of course my show in Beijing Olympics gave me a lot of confidence but I think I played here really well,'' Saina said after the match.

Putting this win above her previous Grand Prix title she said, ''Philippines Open was a four-star event and this is five-star and it's unbelievable that I won this title.'' Saina refused to rest on her laurels and was already looking ahead to the future.

''Next I play in Japan and China Open, both of which are Super Series events and I have to continue the good work there,'' she stated.

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