Badminton player Parupalli Kashyap (centre) stands beside Abdul Bari Siddiqui with another official in London. Telegraph picture

Saina Nehwal had not dropped a single game at London Olympics until the semi-final. But on Friday, she was outclassed.

While the entire country was heartbroken after what transpired at Wembley Arena, a politician from Bihar, who had been cheering for the Indian shuttler, was sad, but looked at the brighter side of things.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Abdul Bari Siddiqui, also the vice-president of Badminton Association of India, was ecstatic with the support that the Indian received even when the odds were against her in the tie with the world number one, Yihan Wang.

“The game was tough. But the support that she received from the spectators at the arena was amazing. She lost, but it was very exciting to see the match from the VIP gallery. It would be fair to say that one-third of the stadium was cheering for Saina,” Siddiqui said.

He said: “We had great expectations from Saina. She had created history by becoming the first Indian to enter the Olympic badminton semi-finals. We were hoping that she wins a silver or gold for the country. But our dreams were shattered when she lost the match, after 45 minutes.”

Saina lost 21-13, 21-13 to Yihan.

“It was a heartbreaking moment for those present at the stadium. We left the venue as soon as the tie ended,” he said.

But Siddiqui believes all is not over. “Yes, we cannot win a gold or a silver, but she might still win an Olympic medal.”

Saina will play another Chinese and former world number one Xin Wang for a bronze on Saturday.

“We could not meet Saina because except the coach and players nobody is allowed to enter the arena. We need passes to meet the players at the hotel. But yes, there was disappointment on her face as she lost after coming this far,” he said.

On the performance of Parupalli Kashyap, who lost his quarter-final match on Thursday, Siddiqui said: “We also had high expectations from him. He was the first man from India to enter the Olympic quarter-final in badminton, but he lost the match after a tough fight against world number two, Malaysian Lee Chong Wei. But I must say that they have made us proud. Playing the world’s best players is not easy.”

Siddiqui, impressed with the hospitality in London, will return to Patna on August 6.