Saina, Sindhu set up all-Indian final
gold coast — India’s badminton queens PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal set up the much-anticipated women’s singles summit clash at the Commonwealth Games after winning their respective semifinals in contrasting fashion, here on Saturday.
The 22-year-old Olympic silver medallist, who had missed the mixed team competition due to an ankle sprain, knocked out defending champion Michelle Li 2118 21-8 in just 26 minutes while former world no 1 Saina had to dig deep to struggle past 2014 silver medallist Kristy Gilmour 21-14 18-21 21-17 in 68 minutes
With two star shuttlers reaching the final, India are assured of gold and silver in the women’s singles. 2010 Delhi Games champion Saina and 2014 bronze medallist Sindhu had clashed at the Senior National championship finals last November with the former having the last laugh after a gruelling match.
Newly-crowned world no 1 Kidambi Srikanth also progressed to the final of the men’s singles after defeating 2010 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Rajiv Ouseph of England 21-10 21-17 in little over half an hour.
Earlier, young Indian pair of Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also stood one step away from a historic gold medal as they reached the finals of the men’s doubles event with a 2118 21-10 win over Sri Lanka’s Sachin Dias and Buwaneka Goonethilleka. — PTI