Saina-Sindhu final looms after historic Asiad wins

Olympic medallists PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal today headed for a gold medal showdown at the 18th Asian Games after their quarterfinal victories ensured India's first ever women's singles medals at the Continental event.

First it was London bronze medallist Saina, who ended a 36-year-old wait for an individual medal after locking at least a bronze following a 21-18 21-16 win over world number five Ratchanok Intanon in a 42-minute quarterfinal.

Rio silver medallist Sindhu then fought past world number 12 Nitchaon Jindapol 21-11 16-21 21-14 in the other quarterfinal.

The last Indian to win an individual medal at the Asian Games was legendary Syed Modi, who won a men's singles bronze, way back in 1982 at New Delhi.

India has won eight badminton medals at the Asian Games and six of them are in team events and one in men's doubles.

In the semifinals, Saina faces world no 1 and top seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei, while Sindhu will take on either China's Chen Yufei or world no 2 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan.

Commenting on the historic medals assured, Sindhu said she is hungry for more.

"It's great (that medals are assured) moment but it's not over yet. It should be the best and not just a medal. May be a gold that's how I feel," said world no 3 Sindhu.

On an all-Indian final looming, Sindhu said, "It will be very good for Indian badminton, two players in the final, hopefully, it will happen."
"Then one-two rallies happened and there I saw her getting tired but she was very tough. She was playing attacking."
"She had the lead, I had the good record against her, crowd was shouting (for Indonesian player on adjacent court), so many things were playing in my mind. You could not hear the shuttle (due to noise), you have to be alert."