Saina Nehwal thumps PV Sindhu to enter semi-finals of Indonesia Masters

Add as a preferred source on Google

Jakarta, January 26: India's Saina Nehwal earned bragging rights over compatriot PV Sindhu, beating the Rio Olympics silver medallist 21-13, 21-19 to enter the semi-finals of the $ 350,000 Indonesia Masters in Jakarta on Friday (January 26).

Nehwal's quarterfinal over World No 3 lasted a mere 37 minutes.

Read in Telugu

It was a pretty one-sided affair. Nehwal staged a comeback after Sindhu's early domination. Both players exchanged points neck to neck in the first game until Nehwal trumped her rival to take the first game 21-13.

In the second game, the celebrated duo engaged in a fierce fight till 3-3 when Sindhu changed gears and jumped to a 10-5 advantage.

But Saina clawed back with five straight points to make it 10-10.

Sindhu then managed to enter the lemon break with a slender 11-10 advantage. The duo fought tooth and nail till 14-14 before engaging in a long rally which left both gasping for breath.

But at the end of it, Saina had managed to lead 15-14, which she increased to 17-14.

The World No 3 and second seed, Sindhu tried to claw back but Saina managed to keep her nose ahead and shut the door on her younger compatriot to reach her first semifinal since the World Championship in August last year.

It was the 27-year-old Nehwal's second victory over Sindhu. Nehwal, the London Olympics bronze medallist, had beaten Sindhu at the Senior Badminton National Championship in Nagpur last year.

Sindhu has beaten Nehwal once in their three meetings, at the India Open 2017.

Nehwal will be up against Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon in Saturday's last-four clash. Intanon defeated world champion Nozomi Okuhara 21-17, 21-10.

Saina has an 8-5 head-to-head record against Ratchanok.

(With PTI inputs)