As the Indian badminton queen Saina Nehwal meets the Indian Olympic superstar PV Sindhu, Indians celebrates their contribution to the rise of India in Badminton to a position where Indians smell winner in almost every other international events. Saina has been the undisputed queen (or king) of Indian badminton making huge contribution in making Badminton a household name. Young Sindhu is the perfect one to share the baton with Saina. Both have played each other only once before in an international event, in 2014 besides 3 Indian Badminton league matches. Check their past records against each other as well as their current form that suggests a mouth-watering contest between them today for a place in semifinals of India Open 2017, where Saina has always performed exceptional winning twice. Sindhu is yet to reach a semifinal in this event, while Saina reached the semifinals in 2016 also beside winning the title twice.
2017 Journey for Both
In 2016, post Rio-Olympics, Saina did not play for few months due to injury, while Sindhu continued her good run post Olympic Silver medal with her first Super Series title, winning China Open and then finishing Runners up at Hong Kong Open in November. In 2017, both have won one international title each, Saina at Malaysia, Sindhu at India, and both reached quarterfinals of the All England Open Super Series. Both have played just one international match against each other and Saina, at the peak of her career then, won the final match played between them in 2014. At other events, they have played each other thrice in Premier Badminton League.
Saina vs Sindhu International Match
Both reached the finals of India Grand Prix Gold 2014 and on January 26th top seed Saina defeated 2nd seed Sindhu 21-14 21-17 in 40 minutes.
Saina vs Sindhu at Premier Badminton League: Saina 2, Sindhu 1
At the peak of her career, Saina registered easy wins over Sindhu twice in 2013 PBL, both at group stage and finals. In 2016, Saina was injured when her team played SIndhu’s team. In 2017, their team met twice, but they played against each other only in the semifinals, where in-form Sindhu emerged winner.
PBL 2013
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Saina Nehwal emerged as the best player of the tournament with 7 straight wins, without any defeat.
Saina: Captain of Winner Hyderabad HotShots
Sindhu: Captain of Runners up Awadhe Warriors
Group on Aug 15: Saina Nehwal (HH) def P V Sindhu (AW) 21-19, 21-8
Final: Saina Nehwal (HH) def P V Sindhu (AW) 21-15 21-7
PBL 2016
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Their teams reached semifinals, but injury of Saina prevented theor group stage clash. Without Saina, her team Awadhe Warrios won 4-1 against Chennai Smashers, whose only win of the match came through PV Sindhu. Both team had equal points at group stage.
Saina: Awadhe Warriors (Semifinalist)
Fastest Smash of the Tournament from Female
Sindhu: Chennai Smashers (Semifinalist)
Most Valuable Female Player of the Tournament
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Saina: Awadhe Warriors captain
Sindhu: Chennai Smashers captain
Sindhu won 6 of the 7 matches she played for Chennai Smashers, losing only to Carolina Marin. In the semifinal, she defeated Saina 11-7 11-8 to know Hyderabad Hunters out.
Saina won 3 of the 5 matches she played, losing to Carolina Marin and Sindhu.
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