Saina Nehwal Pulls out of PBL Tie Against PV Sindhu

Saina Nehwal vs PV Sindhu was being touted as the headlining tie of the tournament that started in Guwahati.

Saina Nehwal said she was nursing an ankle injury and will not be part of the action in Guwahati. 

(Photo: PTI)

The big tournament opener everyone had been waiting for – PV Sindhu against Saina Nehwal. However, it was not to be.

Just hours before the start of the third season of the Premier Badminton League on Saturday, Awadhe Warriors’ marquee player Saina Nehwal pulled out of the women’s singles tie against Chennai Smashers, saying she was nursing an ankle niggle on her right leg.

Awadhe coach Anup Sridhar, however, said he was hopeful Saina would be able to recover fully and feature in the team’s next tie in Delhi on 30 December. Awadhe Warriors are slated to play North East Warriors in Delhi’s Siri Fort Sports Complex.

Sridhar, who along with Siyadath Ullah are part of the Awadhe coaching setup, said in a statement: "Saina is recovering from a small ankle issue which she had developed few weeks back. She is recovering well and we are expecting her to be fully fit for the next match."

Since the eight teams in the tournament only face each other once, this was the only chance for fans to see the two star players face each other in the PBL. However, if both their teams reach the semis or finals, there could be an encore of the 82nd Nationals that took place in Nagpur last month. Sindhu had beaten Saina in that final 21-17, 27-25.

Sindhu will be facing Sai Uttejitha Rao of Awadhe Warriors in the last match of the tie which also happens to be a trump match for the Chennai Smashers team.