Olympic silver-medallist P.V. Sindhu displayed great skills to outclass compatriot Saina Nehwal 21-16, 22-20 in straight sets to book her place in the semi-finals of the India Open Super Series being held at New Delhi.

Sindhu will now take on World No. 2 and second seed Sung Ji Hyun of South Korea in the last 4 of the competition. Sindhu recently won her first ever Super series title in November, 2016 when she won China Open title.

The first game saw both the players go neck and neck in the initial stages but Sindhu opened a big gap and took a 14-9 lead by winning points on the trot. Saina Nehwal tried to stem the rot by winning a few points but Sindhu with her faster on court movement, longer reach and better net play made it 17-11 soon.

Nehwal, the 2015 Indian Open champion, fought her way back with a spurt of aggressive shots and made it 16-19. Sindhu, though closed out the opening game 21-16 to draw first blood in the high intensity encounter.

Saina Nehwal stormed back in the second game and opened up a 4-1 lead in front of a boisterous crowd at the Siri Fort Complex, which was rooting for the 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medalist. But Sindhu with her new found confidence was not to be denied as she won back a few points and closed the gap to a single point with a reflex cross-court backhand and made it 3-4. Saina though produced a string of aggressive smashes to get back her two-point cushion as she made it 7-5 and then again 8-6.

Sindhu missed a crucial net point as she failed to return back a drop  shot from Saina to go down 7-10, and the London Olympic bronze medallist opened up a four-point lead with a neatly executed drop shot that left Sindhu flat footed.

Saina Nehwal opened up a five-point lead at 12-7, but Sindhu made a mini come back by winning two points on the trot. Saina though kept her aggressive ways and hit a smash straight into Sindhu’s body to make it 13-8.

Sindhu made the most of a few unforced errors from Saina to close the gap back to two points and made it 12-14, but the senior pro made it 16-12 with two back to back smashes as the crowd cheered to some vintage Saina magic.

Sindhu then took three points on the trot to close the gap to 15-16, but Saina pulled away yet again to make it 18-15. Saina made the most of a few unforced errors from Sindhu to pull away yet against took a 19-16 lead, but a persistent Sindhu kept her cool to tie the game at 19-19.

Saina then produced a brilliant smash straight into Sindhu’s body to take game point at 20-19 but nerves got the better of her as she hit her serve straight into the net as the match was tied on 20-20.

Sindhu took the match point when her lob was found the touchline after Saina decided to let the shuttle drop thinking it would go wide. Sindhu then wrapped up the match with a classic down the line smash.