Double Olympic medalist PV Sindhu on Friday (July 15) overcame a tough challenge from her Chinese rival Han Yu in a battle that lasted more than an hour for a semi-final spot at the Singapore Open Super 500 tournament. The world number 7 got off to a rough start in the first game as Han was clinical with her placement and drew first blood, but the Indian came back strongly to win the second and ended the issue 17-21, 21-11, Sealed at 21. -19 In a match that lasted 62 minutes.
Sindhu is now leading 3-0 against the face-to-face Chinese. This was Sindhu’s first semi-final entry since the Thailand Open in May and it remains to be seen whether she makes it to her last event before the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
He’s through! [?] PV Sindhu in semi-finals #BWFSSingaporeOpen2022 With a 17-21, 21-11, 21-19 win over Han Yu. # better every day pic.twitter.com/j4DGgvfnUI— JSW Sports (@jswsports) 15 July 2022
Sindhu will next face unseeded Saina Kawakami, the Japanese world number 38, who upset sixth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand 21-17, 21-19. Two other Indians – veteran Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy – are also vying for last-four berths in the tournament and will be in action later in the day.
The world number 19 entered the first game easily at 11-9 as Sindhu struggled to defend herself. The Indian bounced back in second and took a three-point lead in the mid-game gap.
Sindhu extended her lead with a perfect cross-court winner to win the second game with seven consecutive points. It turned out to be a thriller in the end, as Sindhu, who found herself trailing 8-11 in familiar territory and then 9-14 in the decider, made some great rallies.
Sindhu showed great resilience to make a comeback and take it to the level of 14-all with five consecutive points. It went 19-all before Sindhu sealed it in her favor.
(with PTI input)