PV Sindhu is just 17 years old but she is already creating ripples in world badminton. This young shuttler from Hyderabad is being touted as the next Saina Nehwal. But next week’s India Open Super Series will see the possibility of a mouth-watering quarterfinal clash with her idol and top seed Saina.
With both players training from Pullela Gopichand Academy here, this could prove to be a big clash. Fresh from one of the biggest wins of her career, when she toppled World No 6 Wang Shixian in the Badminton Asian Championship recently, the gangling Sindhu could be a tricky customer to Saina, who lost to the same Chinese player in Swiss Open.
Sindhu had beaten London Olympic gold medallist Li Xuerui last year.
Former international Sanjay Sharma, said “There is a lot of expectations from this match. Saina will be bit apprehensive as Sindhu has made rapid strides and has nothing to lose in this clash. Being a seasoned player, Saina may edge out Sindhu but it still could be anybody’s game,”.
Seeded eighth, Sindhu has a tough route to the quarterfinals as she may face two Chinese players early. She begins her campaign against Xue Yao and could then face Sun Yu.