After the victory, a jubilant Saina said she did not think much about her higher-ranked opponent and played her natural game.

“I had no expectations because it was my first Olympics. I just wanted to give it my best. I never thought I have to win and wanted to give my 100 per cent,” Saina said.

On her quarter-final match against Yulianti, Saina said: “Getting into the quarter-finals is something I never thought of.”

Sridhar out

Anup Sridhar’s campaign did not proceed beyond the second round as Shoji Sato of Japan sent the Indian packing in straight sets. Sato took just 37 minutes to tame Sridhar 21-13, 21-17 in a lopsided match where Sridhar looked out of sorts for major part of it.

Sato got off to a good start, racing to 6-0 and he wrapped up the game, winning five points on the trot. Sridhar put up a slightly better show in the second game. Sato, however, was quick to assert himself.