India Open Super Series 2017: PV Sindhu defeated Saina Nehwal

It was much waited clash between P V Sindhu & Saina Nehwal, A good crowd gathered today to watch this Quarter final match between Indians to Olympic medalist. Saina who was favorite of local crowd but Sindhu prevailed 21-16, 22-20 in 47 minutes of tense action that did not really live up the quality expected from two top-10 players.

P V Sindhu, Who is currently ranked 5^th in World badminton women’s ranking beat the national senior rival Saina Nehwal who is currently world ranked 8^th in Women’s ranking. This is first time Sindhu beat Saina in International match.

Now their head-to-head record stands at 1-1. In the 2014 Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold final at Lucknow, Saina did not have to work too hard for a straight-game victory. On this day, Sindhu avenged that defeat, that too, in their first clash in a Super Series.

Sindhu now plays Korean second seed Sung Ji Hyun while the second semifinal will feature top seed Carolina Marin and Japanese Akane Yamaguchi.

“I think she moved very well. At least, I didn’t see her struggling to move at any point,” said Sindhu of Saina’s on-court movements this evening.The match, which did not see too many rallies, saw Saina trying to finish the points with her forceful strokes while Sindhu was happy to return the shuttles, using Saina’s pace whenever possible.

Sindhu’s smashes, lacking in power when compared to Saina’s finishing strokes, brought her points due to placement. “I am still working on adding strengths to my smashes,” admitted the Olympic silver-medallist.