Guwahati all set for Saina-Sindhu clash
guwahati — The most famous rivalry in Indian badminton will be on display once again on Saturday when global superstars PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal lock horns at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium here and ensure a blockbuster opening to the third edition of the Premier Badminton League (PBL).
In what promises to be an exciting opener, the Sindhu-led Chennai Smashers, who are the defending champions, will meet Saina’s Awadhe Warriors, the most consistent team of the league.
Sindhu holds a 2-1 edge in her recent meetings against Saina, with her only loss coming in a riveting Senior National Championship final held at Nagpur last month.
It is not just a personal battle of the two Indian girls as they would also be looking to guide their respective teams to glory in a highly competitive league that also features the world’s top players including men’s World No.1 Viktor Axlesson (Denmark) and women’s No.1 Tai Tzu Ying (Taiwan).
On the eve of the league opener, Sindhu underplayed her duel with Saina instead emphasising on the stiff competition she would be up against in the next 23 days.
“I’m looking forward to our opening match against Awadhe Warriors. It is not just my match against Saina, every match will be tough as there are some really strong teams out there. With World No 1 in both men’s and women’s singles, eight 2017 World Championship medallists, nine Olympic medallists (including three multiple medal winners) competing in this edition, the league is easily the best among Olympic disciplines in the country. The PBL is held under the aegis of the Badminton Association of India (BAI) and is organised by Sportzlive, the official licensee partner of the league. It has already acquired the tag of being one of the richest badminton leagues.
Eight teams, including two new entrants Ahmedabad Smash Masters and North Eastern Warriors, will line up against each other in five cities beginning with Guwahati on Saturday. —