Wang Yihan ends Saina Nehwal's run at Asian Badminton Championship

New Delhi: Indian badminton star Saina Nehwal's solid run at the Asian badminton Championship ended on Saturday.

Nehwal was brushed aside by China's Wang Yihan 16-21, 14-21 in the semi-finals in Shahghai.

On Friday, the Indian shuttler produced a controlled performance of aggression and caution to beat Wang Shixian of China 21-16 21-19. But Indian ace failed to repeat the performance in the last four clash.

Olympic bronze medallist Saina lost in a 41-minute match for her 11th defeat against the Chinese.

It was yet another semifinal finish for the World No. 8 Indian, having made it to the final four in the Swiss Grand Prix Gold, India Super Series and Malaysia Super Series Premier Open earlier in the year.

Saina was leading 3-0 in the beginning and despite a challenge from Wang, she managed to hang on to a 9-6 lead before the Chinese turned the tables and marched ahead after the interval, and then never looked back.

In the second game, Wang dished out a dominating performance as she opened up a 5-0 lead and continued to surge ahead even as Saina's game crumbled.

This was the last tournament before the Olympic qualification deadline of May 3rd.