India's top shuttler Saina Nehwal assured herself of at least a bronze after progressing to the women's singles semifinals, knocking out world no 5 Ratchanok Intanon at the 18th Asian Games, here today.

Saina fell behind 3-8 at the beginning in the opening game but found a way to beat the Thai player 21-18 21-16 in the quarterfinal, which lasted 42 minutes. This is India's first medal in women's singles at the Asian Games. Syed Modi was the only Indian to win a medal at the Asian Games when he clinched the men's singles bronze at the 1982 edition.