India Open Super Series: PV Sindhu beats Saina Nehwal in straight games to advance into semi-final

New Delhi: In a much-awaited contest, PV Sindhu defeated Saina Nehwal 21-16, 22-20 at the Siri Fort Complex in national capital to advance into the semi-final of Yonex-Sunrise India Super Series badminton tournament.

Sindhu, who created history by winning a silver medal at Rio Olympics last year, dominated the proceedings from the word go and sealed the first game in just 19 minutes.

But Saina, who is yet to hit her peak after undergoing a knee surgery post the Olympics last year, made a comeback in the second game where she won several points with after unleashing a barrage of body-line smashes at her opponent. (Saina Nehwal vs PV Sindhu - As it happened...)

Saina was leading the second game 19-16 at one stage and was close to leveling the match, before Sindhu bounced back to win three successive points in a row to level the score at 19-19. Saina then once again took the lead at 20-19 after hitting another body smash. But the London Olympics bronze medallist then let the match slip out of her hands as a service error from her saw Sindhu winning the next point as well as the remaining two points to finally win the match.

The high-voltage contest lasted for 48 minutes.

Nehwal, on Thursday, defeated the 19-year old Thailand Pornpawee Chochuwong by 21-14 21-12, while Sindhu, brushed past Japan’s Saena Kawakami by 21-16 23-21 to set up the quarterfinal clash.

Saina and Sindhu have met just once in an international competition -- at the 2014 Syed Modi International. Saina had won that match in straight games.