Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Sindhu, Saina look to end Asian title wait

By The Assam Tribune

WUHAN (CHINA), April 23: A week�s rest after three back-to-back tournaments, Olympic medallists PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal will now train their eyes on ending India�s 54-year-old title jinx at the Asia Badminton Championship beginning here on Wednesday.

It was Dinesh Khanna, who had become the men�s singles champion at the Asian Championship in 1965. Last year, HS Prannoy and Saina Nehwal won bronze medals in their respective categories.

The two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Saina had won two more bronze at the Asia Championship in 2010 and 2016, while Sindhu claimed the bronze at the 2014 event at South Korea.

The duo will have their task cut out in a draw which boosts of the likes of Akane Yamaguchi, Chen Yufei, Ratchanok Intanon among others even though defending champion and India�s nemesis Tai Tzu Ying has withdrawn from the event.

Sindhu had reached her second semifinal this season at the Singapore Open before her inexplicable meltdown against Japan�s Nozomi Okuhara, while Saina perished in the quarterfinals after going down in straight games to the same opponent.

Sindhu, who had won the World Tour Finals in December, will look for her maiden title of the season when she begins her campaign against Japan�s Sayaka Takahashi.

A win is likely to pit Sindhu against Pornpawee Chochuwong, who had beaten Saina at Malaysia Open. The Indian is expected to stave off the challenge which will bring her face to face with Korea�s Sung Ji Hyun, who had beaten her twice this year. � PTI

Next Story