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Saina, PV Sindhu enter semis of World Badminton Championship ensuring bronze, Kidambi crashes out

  • Saina Nehwal’s semi-final entry has raised hopes of a first all-India summit showdown in the World Championships in Glasgow
  • PV Sindhu has also made it to the semi finals, assuring India of a bronze medal
  • Kidambi Srikanth, however, crashed out of the World Badminton Championships, losing to South Korea’s Son Wan Ho
Saina PV Sindhu enter semis of World Badminton Championship ensuring bronze Kadambi crashes out

Saina Nehwal’s semi-final entry has raised hopes of a first all-India summit showdown in the World Championships in Glasgow. And with PV Sindhu already in the semi finals, India is assured a bronze in the World meet.

The Olympic bronze medallist advanced to the semi-final when she staved off the challenge from local favourite Kristy Gilmour to assure herself of at least a bronze. The 27-year-old Indian, who won a silver medal at the last edition at Jakarta, dug deep into her reservoir to eke out a 21-19, 18-21, 21-15 win over the world No. 31 Gilmour in a match that lasted an hour and 14 minutes.

With Rio Olympics silver medallist P.V. Sindhu already making it to the semi-finals from the top half, this is the first time India will return with two medals from the BWF World Championships. “I was expecting a tough fight, but I was surprised she was playing so quick,” said Nehwal after the match.

Sindhu, who twice won a bronze medal at the 2013 and 2014 editions, survived a scare against Hong Kong's Cheung Ngan Yi before prevailing 19-21, 23-21, 21-17 in a thrilling women's singles match that lasted an hour and 27 minutes.

The 22-year-old Indian fought back from 13-16 down in the second game after losing the first to eventually come up trumps. She will face fifth seed Sun Yu of China next.

“I should not have gone to Rio” Olympics, said Saina Nehwal, almost a year after the champion shuttler’s early exit proved to be one of the biggest upsets for the Indian contingent at the Games. Her defeat to unheralded Ukrainian Marija Ulitina was the lowest point for India in Rio.

Now, a rejuvenated Saina marked her return to the big league by reaching the semifinals of the World Badminton Championships here.

In the men's division Kidambi Srikanth, however, crashed out of the World Badminton Championships. Kidambi Srikanth’s 13-match unbeaten streak was snapped by South Korea’s Son Wan Ho at the World Badminton Championships in Glasgow when the Indian shuttler went down 14-21, 18-21 in a match lasting 48 minutes. 

(With inputs from PTI)

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