PV Sindhu teams up with ‘rival’ Saina Nehwal only to lose doubles badminton tie

PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, who are among the world’s best singles badminton players, teamed up for a rare doubles match during an inter-office tournament

PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal may be fiercest rivals, but India’s badminton queens on Monday teamed up for a doubles match for employers Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited at the 38th PSPB inter-unit badminton championship in Bangalore.

PV Sindhu (L) and Saina Nehwal of India during an Uber Cup badminton match vs Thailand at Siri Fort Stadium in New Delhi on May 20, 2014. Sindhu and Saina teamed up again for a doubles match for their employers Bharat Petroleum (AFP/Getty Images)

Although the PV Sindhu-Saina Nehwal pair went down fighting against doubles specialist pair of N Sikki Reddy and Aparna Balan, the handful of spectators present witnessed a rare partnership between the arch-rivals.

Sikki Reddy and Aparna Balan beat Sindhu-Saina duo 19-21, 21-18, 20-22.

“We’re singles players first, so on-court rivalry will obviously be there. But off the court, there’s none, although we don’t speak very often,” PV Sindhu was quoted as saying.

PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal have teamed up together at Uber Cup. However, Monday’s match was first together for them after Sindhu’s stupendous rise since her Rio Olympics silver.

“It was difficult playing together again. But then, we played well despite losing and everybody enjoyed it. It was a good match overall,” Sindhu said.