PV Sindhu enters semis; Saina exits Badminton World Championship
Other Sports | Aug 03, 2018, 09:59 PM ISTThird seed Sindhu, facing Japanese Nozomi Okuhara, who defeated her at the previous edition's final, won 21-17, 21-19 in 58 minutes.
Third seed Sindhu, facing Japanese Nozomi Okuhara, who defeated her at the previous edition's final, won 21-17, 21-19 in 58 minutes.
Saina, the 10th seed, was outclassed by Spanish seventh seed and two-time world champion Carolina Marin.
Saina showed amazing retrieving skills against Inthanon, who is on a comeback trail after recovering from an injury.
It took the star shuttler 35 minutes to ease past the Indonesian, dominating the proceedings and imposing authority to win 21-14, 21-9 to enter the pre-quarters.
The Olympic medallist Indian had received a bye in the first round.
While Saina skipped last week's Thailand Open, Sindhu made it to the final before losing to reigning World Champion Nozomi Okuhara, who climbed up two spots to 6th.
Memories of Sindhu and Okuhara battling in one of the greatest matches of all time during the summit clash in Glasgow last year is still fresh in the minds of badminton aficionados.
On a day when rest of the Indian shuttlers found the going tough, World No. 3 Sindhu continued her impressive run with a 21-16, 21-14 win over Hong Kong's Yip Pui Yin.
Nehwal slumped to an 18-21, 15-21 straight set defeat to her Chinese opponent Chen Yufei in the second round of the Indonesia Open.
Olympic and world championship silver medallist Sindhu brushed aside the challenge of Malaysia's Ying Ying Lee 21-8, 21-14 to set up a clash Carolina Marin.
This is Saina's sixth straight loss to the Japanese in seven meetings.
The Indian has been drawn in a tough group and is meeting second seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the second round.
The Gold Coast loss was Sindhu's third successive against the Saina, following defeats at the 2017 National championship final and 2018 Indonesia Open quarterfinal.
Union minister Rathore had started a fitness challenge where all would post their favourite workout and nominated Kohli, Saina Nehwal and Hrithik Roshan. Take a look.
After going down 1-4 to Canada in the opening match, Saina and Co. seemed to get their act together as they won all the matches, except the first women's doubles.
The tournament which is in its 27th year of existence will see the Asian championship bronze medallist Prannoy along with B Sai Praneeth in the men's singles.
`Shraddha Kapoor is currently training hard for Saina Nehwal's biopic.
While Saina is an Olympic bronze medallist, Sindhu did one better by winning a silver at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
London Olympics bronze medallist Saina has a 3-1 head-to-head record in the international matches against Rio Games silver medallist Sindhu.
Former world No 1 Saina showed her class as she dumped unseeded Korean Lee Jang Mi 21-15 21-13 in a 43-minute clash.
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