PV Sindhu gave India some joy in the China Open Superseries Premier Badminton tournament as she advanced to the quarterfinals with a 21-15,21-13 win over China’s Han Yue. Earlier on Thursday, Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy bowed out in straight games. Saina suffered a 18-21, 11-21 to Japanese fifth seed Akane Yamaguchi while Prannoy fought hard but suffered a 19-21, 17-21 loss to Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu.
Sindhu dominated right from the start as she raced away to 6-3 lead but the Chinese shuttler fought back well to level the game 8-8. However, the Indian put up a stirring display as she built a six-point lead to clinch the first game 21-15. The second game was even more dominant for Sindhu as she took a 11-3 lead. Although Yue bounced back with a couple of points, the lead was too much and the Indian clinched the match in straight games.
In the match earlier, Saina had her moments in the game against Yamaguchi and she got off to a great start by taking an 11-9 lead in the first game. However, Yamaguchi staged a strong comeback and won four out of the next six points. At 17-17, the game was evenly poised but Yamaguchi held her nerve and snatched the lead to take the first game 21-18.
At the start of the second game, Saina lacked momentum and she fell behind the Japanese shuttler. At 11-8, the game was firmly in Yamaguchi’s grasp and she did not slip up to clinch the game and the match.
{{/usCountry}}At the start of the second game, Saina lacked momentum and she fell behind the Japanese shuttler. At 11-8, the game was firmly in Yamaguchi’s grasp and she did not slip up to clinch the game and the match.
{{/usCountry}}In the other game, HS Prannoy put up a spirited performance against Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu. The Indian put up a tough fight after getting off to a bad start where he trailed 7-10 in the first game. Prannoy made a strong comeback and managed to take a 13-12 lead.
However, Lee stormed back to wrest the initiative and take a 15-13 leave but Prannoy once again staged a fightback to level the match at 19-19. Lee, though, held his nerve and soaked in the pressure nicely to take the first game 21-19.
Prannoy, who had won the national championship in India, got off to a great start in the second game as he took a 8-6 lead but once again Lee fought back well. At 11-11, it was anybody’s game but Lee capitalised on some errors from Prannoy and took a two-point lead. Prannoy, though, refused to back down and at 16-16, the see-saw encounter continued.
The Hong Kong shuttler though was riding the momentum and he won four straight points to close the game and win the match.