Shuttlers assured of two medals at World meet

Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu have been the trendsetters of Indian badminton over the last few years, and they continue to be so. The duo has ensured that for the first time, India will boast of two medals from a single World Badminton Championships.

While Saina will return with bronze after a 21-12 17-21 10-21 defeat to Japan's Nozomi Okuhara in the semifinals of the 2017 Worlds in Glasgow on Saturday, Sindhu could better the colour of the medal if she beats Chinese Chen Yufei in her semifinal late on Saturday night. But even if she doesn't, she is assured of a bronze.

Indian shuttlers have won five medals at the World Championships, with Prakash Padukone's bronze in 1983 being the maiden and Saina's silver in 2015 the last before this edition. In between, Sindhu has a couple of bronze in 2013 and 2014, while the doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa clinched bronze in 2011.

But never has the country tasted double delight at the Worlds, and that's credit to both the leading ladies of Indian badminton.

More so for Saina, who has made a stellar comeback from a knee surgery last year. The 12th seeded Indian has had a fine run in the tournament, with her biggest victory coming against the second seed Sung Ji Hyun in straight games in the third round.

The 27-year-old then went past local favourite Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland in the quarterfinals late on Friday night, but fell short in trying to match or better the colour of her previous Worlds medal.