Shuttlers Saina, Sameer enter Syed Modi International final

Lucknow, Nov 24 (IANS) Three-time winner Saina Nehwal and defending champion Sameer Verma stormed into the respective finals of the women's and men's singles events at the Syed Modi International World Tour Super 300 here on Saturday.Saina, the London Olympics bronze medallist bounced back from a game down to beat Indonesian Ruselli Hartawan 12-21, 21-7, 21-6 to set up a clash with China's Han Yue, who defeated compatriot Li Xuerui 21-15 19-21 21-9 in another semi-final.Sameer, the third seed, set up the summit clash with sixth seeded Chinese Lu Guangzu, after prevailing over Indonesian Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo 21-13, 17-21, 21-8 in the semi-finals.In women's doubles, Jakarta Commonwealth Games bronze medallists Ashwini Ponnappa and N.Sikki Reddy also made it to their second successive final with a 21-18, 21-16 win over Russian combo of Ekaterina Bolotova and Alina Davletova.Ashwini, however, failed to reach the mixed doubles final after she and her partner Satwiksairaj Rankireddy went down narrowly 12-21, 21-18, 19-21 to the Chinese pair of Ou Xuanyi and Feng Xueying.
--IANS tri/vm