By Harpal Singh Bedi

Jakarta, Aug 26 (UNI) Olympic medalists Saina Nehiwal and PV Sindhu chalked out contrasting win over their Thailand rivals Intanon Ratchanok and Nitchaon Jinapol respectively assuring India its first ever individual medals in the Badminton competition of the Asian Games here on Sunday.

Putting behind the unexpected defeats they had suffered in the team events, London and Rio Olympic medal winners put up another commanding show to storm into the semi-finals of the competition.
Saina over-ran Intanon Ratchanok 21-18, 21-16 in 44 minutes and the PV Sindhu overpowered other Thai rival Nitchaon Jindapol 21-11, 16-21, 21-14 in 64 minutes.
“I was not aware that no Indian has ever won a individual medal in Asian Games Badminton, said Saina after the match.” " There was no network in the room so I could not check the previous record of the Games. Only this morning I came to know about this. Now I have been assured of a medal. It is indeed a very happy moment for me.”
Before this match Saina had 9-5 record against Intanon and this afternoon the Indian increased that head to head lead.
Saina started tentatively as she trailed 0-6 in the first set. The Thai girl soon increased the lead to 12-4 as the London Games medallist committed several unforced errors.
The lead kept increasing and at one stage it was 17-11 in Intanon’s favour but suddenly there was a sharp and surprising decline in her form as Saina regrouped herself and capitalised on her rival’s tentativeness.
The Indian took six points in a row to make it 17 all and after that she did not give any quarter to Intanon and clinched the game 21-18 to go 1-0 up.

Saina led from the start in the second game, 4-1, 10-8, 17-12 and wrapped the game and the match at 21-16.

“I played well and was not nervous,” she said after the match. “ It is a good win and to be in the semi-final of this level of competition always makes you feel happy."
Sindhu on the other hand started briskly winning the first game 21-11 in 17 minutes however, Jindapol surprised the fancied India with her fight back as she snatched the second game 21-16 in 22 minutes to draw parity 1-1.
In the decider, Sindhu trailed initially 4-7 but soon bridged the gap and led 11-8 and after that she never let Jindapol to control the procedings and ran away with the game 21-14 and the match.

"The second was tough”admitted Sindhu after her win “ Jindapol has changed her game, earlier she was more into rallies but now she is playing differently.”

“Third game was no problem, I played well and was confident of getting past her which I did” Sindhu said.
The Indian had beaten Jindapol twice and lost once before this match.
In the semi-finals Saina will face Tzuying Tai of Chinese Taipei while Sindhu will clash with Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi on Monday.
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