Indonesia Masters: Sindhu, Saina renew rivalry in quarterfinal meeting

Saina, who helped put Indian women's badminton on the world map, will go head-to-head against the new face of women's badminton in the country in Sindhu.

Saina Nehwal (L) will face off against P.V. Sindhu in the Indonesia Open on Friday. team

P. V. Sindhu is set to take on compatriot Saina Nehwal in the quarterfinals of the USD 350,000 Indonesia Open SuperSeries on Friday.

Saina, who helped put Indian women's badminton on the world map, will go head-to-head against the new face of women's badminton in the country in Sindhu.

Saina, ranked no. 12, shades the bragging rights in their short lived rivalry so far. She comfortably beat the then 19-year-old Sindhu in the India Open Grand Prix Gold back in 2014.

The world no. 3 Sindhu levelled the scores with a straight sets victory in the 2017 India Open.

The 2016 Olympic silver medalist, however, lost the edge in the head-to-head meetings when she lost to Saina in the 82nd National Badminton championship in November last year.

The duo was scheduled to meet in the recently concluded Premier Badminton League - 3 in a match between Chennai Smashers and Awadhe Warriors, but Saina puled out due to an ankle injury.

While facing each other in the national league, both have a win a piece with Saina defeating Sindhu in the 2013 Indian Badminton League (IBL), before Sindhu returned the favour to Saina in the second season of PBL in January 2017.

Friday will mark another chapter in their rivalry.