Saina Nehwal beats PV Sindhu 21-17, 27-25 in the final of Senior National Badminton Championships in Nagpur on Wednesday to lift her third National’s title in as many appearances. With this win, she also edged ahead by 2-1 in her head-to-head record against Sindhu.
Saina went into the match as an underdog keeping in mind Sindhu’s superior form over the last few months. .Saina, who has played nationals thrice to win the tournament all three times, led the game from the very start.
PV Sindhu kept trying to narrow the gap, but all her efforts went in vain by a superior rival. A blockbuster final was very much expected between the two most popular Indian shuttlers when they declared participation in the tournament. Both of them had also picked up contrasting victories in their respective semifinals. While Sindhu was surprisingly delayed a win by Ruthvika Shivani before ultimately winning 17-21, 21-15, 21-11 in the semifinals, Saina cruised past swiftly as she defeated Anura Prabhudesai 21-11 21-10.
The match reached its peak point after the two rivals stood on equal points at 19. Superb rallies followed with a total of six match points. If Nehwal took a point, it was followed by a beautiful strike that put Sindhu back in the game. If Sindhu took a point, she was countered by Nehwal. Both went back and forth, front and back, before Sindhu sent her half smash into the net.
Saina had last won the tournament in 2007 which came a year after her first win in 2006. Sindhu had earlier won the title in 2011 and 2013. It is also interesting to note that going into this final, both players were tied at two titles each at the tournament but with a victory now, Saina went past Sindhu in this aspect too.
Saina Nehwal ’s Win-Loss record against Top 5 ranked players
- Against the World No.1 Chinese shuttler Li Xuerui: 2 – 8
- Against the World No.2 Chinese shuttler Wang Shixian: 5 – 5
- Against the World No.3 Chinese shuttler Wang Yihan: 1 – 8
- Against the World No.4 Korean shuttler Ji Hyun Sung: 4 – 1
- Against the World No.5 Korean shuttler Bae Yeon Ju: 6 – 4
P.V Sindhu’s Win-Loss record against Top 5 ranked players
- Against the World No.1 Chinese shuttler Li Xuerui: 1 – 1
- Against the World No.2 Chinese shuttler Wang Shixian: 4 – 2
- Against the World No.3 Chinese shuttler Wang Yihan: 1 - 3
- Against the World No.4 Korean shuttler Ji Hyun Sung: 3 – 1
- Against the World No.5 Korean shuttler Bae Yeon Ju: 1 – 2
Saina Nehwal always wears an intense armour on court. She wills herself on, pumping her fists and screeching after winning a hard-fought point or muttering after conceding one. She is known to scowl and screech. She is intensity personified.
