It was the ultimate game of PV Sindhu vs Saina Nehwal at the 83rd Senior National Badminton Championships where two of the country’s top women Badminton players — PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal – were up against each other, again. In a much-awaited event, Nehwal won the clash and emerged victorious against Sindhu on Saturday. It is her fourth Senior National Badminton Championships title as she got the better of top seed PV Sindhu in Guwahati. Saina won the match convincingly in straight games 21-18, 21-15 to lift the title, claiming her second successive and fourth overall (2006, 2007, 2018, 2019) Nationals title. Sindhu had won it in 2011 and 2013.
. @NSaina - National Champion 2019
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) February 16, 2019
In the battle of the #ShuttleQueens, it was Saina Nehwal who dominated the proceedings to win the finals of Women's Singles at the Yonex Sunrise 83rd Senior Nationals with a scoreline of 21-18 21-15. Kudos! #IndiaontheRIse #SeniorNationals2019 pic.twitter.com/Hhe4gIQ7Kl
While the two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nehwal takes home a major title of the year, a beaten Sindhu had to settle for a second place for the second year in a row. Both Nehwal and Sindhu overcame their respective opponents on Friday to set up a repeat of last year's final. Even in November 2017, Saina had silenced Sindhu 21-17, 27-25 in an epic hour-long battle.
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.@NSaina wins her 4️⃣🏆!
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) February 16, 2019
A dominating performance from @NSaina to topple top seed @Pvsindhu1 in straight games of 21-18;21-15 to clinch the WS crown in Guwahati and win her fourth national title. 👏👏#IndiaontheRise #SeniorNationals2019 pic.twitter.com/Y0jZfmIov2
Saina's power strokes was unrivalled, even for the Olympic silver-medallist Sindhu. It was a neck-and-neck challenge for both the players but a much steady Saina defeated Sindhu with every stroke.
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Hon'ble Chief Minister of Assam @sarbanandsonwal and BAI President @himantabiswa greeting the two finalists @Pvsindhu1 and @NSaina of #SeniorNationals2019 ahead of the start of the match. #IndiaontheRise #badminton pic.twitter.com/pBJPQR2LZK
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) February 16, 2019
Earlier in 2017, in Nagpur, Nehwal played the game after a gap of almost 10 years, first being 2007. A major upset for Sindhu, but Saina played into her experience in the sport. Last time both the India’s finest and Olympic medallists clashed with each other in the India Open badminton tournament the same year where Sindhu bettered in the games ahead. Before that their first counter was at the 2014 Syed Modi International.
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