Saina Nehwal thumps defending champ, PV Sindhu storms into All England Open Rd 2

Saina Nehwal beats defending champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan 21-15, 21-14, PV Sindhubeats Denmark’s Mette Poulsen 21-10, 21-11 in Rd 1 of the All England Open

Sixth seed PV Sindhu and eighth seed Saina Nehwal were off to a flying start in the women’s singles of the All England Open in Birmingham on Wednesday.

PV SIndhu is the first Indian badminton player to win a silver medal at Olympics. (Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)

PV Sindhu defeated Denmark’s Mette Poulsen 21-10, 21-11 in just 29 minutes. Later in the evening, Saina Nehwal got the better of world No 11 and defending champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan 21-15, 21-14 in 38 minutes.

The world No 5 Sindhu, who is now India’s top ranked player after winning silver at the Rio Olympics in August last year, sealed the match with a forehand crosscourt. Sindhu hit 42 winners in the match where she did not let the Dane get a footing at the Barclaycard Arena.

The All England Open presents a perfect opportunity for the two-time World Championship bronze medallist Sindhu to further elevate her profile and India hopes she becomes the first woman from the country to lift the title.