Errors hurting Gadde very badly. Sindhu up 17-10 Ruthvika is now 2 points away from taking the game. 19-12 Big smash by Sindhu to open a 1-0 lead The players are on court and the match will begin shortly. Good afternoon and welcome to the Sportskeeda liveblog of the 2017 Senior National Badminton Championships semi-finals. Top seed PV Sindhu takes on qualifier Ruthvika Shivani Gadde for a place in the summit clash. While Sindhu is ranked second in the world, Gadde is 83rd. They have never met on the BWF Tour but their last clash, that happened at the South Asian Games in February, 2016, remains significant. Gadde beat Sindhu in the final of that event to take the gold, which led to many claiming her as the best player behind Saina Nehwal and Sindhu. Gadde did win a Grand Prix title after that which did more justice to her talent. However, since then, the road has been tough because injuries intervened.  Now the youngster is making her way back to the circuit and could thus pose a threat to Sindhu. The World No. 2 has come to this tournament on the back of a semi-final finish at the French Open, but tiredness could be a factor. She did look very exhausted against Akane Yamaguchi, who stopped her in Paris and at the Nationals too, it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for the top seed even though she did not concede any game.  Sindhu needs to be in control of the proceedings for any lax attitude on her part could make it a very competitive match. If the two-time champion would like to lay hands on the Nationals trophy for the third time, she needs to conserve energy and remain fresh for tomorrow's final.
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And tomorrow, get ready, folks! It's Saina vs Sindhu for the title! Can it get any better than that?