PUNE: India's top shuttlers posted contrasting victories en route to the quarterfinals of the Yonex Sunrise-BWF World Junior Badminton Championship at the Balewadi Sports Complex here on Thursday.
Top seed Saina Nehwal cantered past Kuan Kam Chung of Malaysia 21-13, 21-11 but Gurusaidutt had to toil hard for a 19-21, 21-19, 21-12 win over Kuan Kam Chung of Malaysia.
Despite a clinical effort from Saina, it was Gurusaidutt who hogged the limelight after his marathon encounter.
"Yes, Guru has to be given the credit for the way he played," said coach Pullela Gopichand over the phone from Bangalore. "He fumbled in the first game but what was remarkable was the way he came back into the game. He is a real fighter", Gopichand said.
After losing the first game 19-21, Gurusaidutt rallied from 12-17 in the second to level the score. In the decider, the Bangalore lad was all over his rival to race to a 21-12 win to stay alive in the championship in one of the longest ties of the day.
Top seed Gao Huan of China saved four match points before overcoming Malaysia's Mohammed Ismail, in a match which went down to the wires. The Chinese won 17-21, 23-21, 21-14 in 52 minutes.
