Well begun!

Guangzhou, December 12

PV Sindhu, the world No. 6, had to dig deep into her reserves to beat world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi in their opening Group A match at the World Tour Finals today.

Sindhu, who had finished runners-up to Yamaguchi at the last edition of the tournament in Dubai, played a superb game, mixing patience and aggression, to win 24-22 21-15.

However, Sameer Verma, who is the second Indian male player after Kidambi Srikanth to qualify for the tournament, couldn’t adjust to the pace of world No. 1 and world champion Kento Momota, going down 18-21 6-21 in their opening group match.

Only eight top players in the world qualify to compete in this prestigious season-ending event.

Tough fight

Making her third successive Guangzhou, December 12

PV Sindhu, the world No. 6, had to dig deep into her reserves to beat world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi in their opening Group A match at the World Tour Finals today.

Sindhu, who had finished runners-up to Yamaguchi at the last edition of the tournament in Dubai, played a superb game, mixing patience and aggression, to win 24-22 21-15.

However, Sameer Verma, who is the second Indian male player after Kidambi Srikanth to qualify for the tournament, couldn’t adjust to the pace of world No. 1 and world champion Kento Momota, going down 18-21 6-21 in their opening group match.

Only eight top players in the world qualify to compete in this prestigious season-ending event.

Tough fight

Making her third successive appearance at the tournament, Sindhu, who had a 9-4 head-to-head record against Yamaguchi, produced a controlled game in the slow conditions, never letting go despite lagging behind many times in the match.

The first game clocked 27 minutes as both the shuttlers fought tooth and nail for supremacy. Sindhu was trailing 6-11 but fought back to catch up at 19-19 with a smash on her rival’s backhand.

A battle of mind and body ensued as the lead changed hands but it was Sindhu who showed better mental fortitude to claim the opening game after a stretched Yamaguchi sent her forehand return at the net.

In the second game, Yamaguchi tried to put pressure on the Indian’s backhand but Sindhu was up to the challenge as she made some superb retrieves to lead 3-1 initially. But Yamaguchi levelled and then went on to lead 6-3 after Sindhu made a judgement error. Sindhu, however, fought back to lead 8-7. At the break, Yamaguchi held a slender 11-10 lead after Sindhu could not properly connect at the forecourt. 

Sindhu took a 14-11 lead after the break, following two mistakes from the Japanese and a superb disguised flick at the back court.  The Indian dominated the proceedings after the break, grabbing a seven-point cushion at 18-11. She then grabbed six match points when Yamaguchi hit the net. Yamaguchi saved one before faltering at the net to hand over the match to Sindhu. The top two players from each group will qualify for the semifinals. Sindhu next faces world No. 1 Tai Tzu Ying tomorrow.

Verma’s task

Verma, who defended his title at the Syed Modi International to qualify for this $1,500,000 event, will have to beat Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen and Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto in the other Group B matches to salvage hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage. — PTIat the tournament, Sindhu, who had a 9-4 head-to-head record against Yamaguchi, produced a controlled game in the slow conditions, never letting go despite lagging behind many times in the match.

The first game clocked 27 minutes as both the shuttlers fought tooth and nail for supremacy. Sindhu was trailing 6-11 but fought back to catch up at 19-19 with a smash on her rival’s backhand.

A battle of mind and body ensued as the lead changed hands but it was Sindhu who showed better mental fortitude to claim the opening game after a stretched Yamaguchi sent her forehand return at the net.

In the second game, Yamaguchi tried to put pressure on the Indian’s backhand but Sindhu was up to the challenge as she made some superb retrieves to lead 3-1 initially. But Yamaguchi levelled and then went on to lead 6-3 after Sindhu made a judgement error. Sindhu, however, fought back to lead 8-7. At the break, Yamaguchi held a slender 11-10 lead after Sindhu could not properly connect at the forecourt. 

Sindhu took a 14-11 lead after the break, following two mistakes from the Japanese and a superb disguised flick at the back court.  The Indian dominated the proceedings after the break, grabbing a seven-point cushion at 18-11. She then grabbed six match points when Yamaguchi hit the net. Yamaguchi saved one before faltering at the net to hand over the match to Sindhu. The top two players from each group will qualify for the semifinals. Sindhu next faces world No. 1 Tai Tzu Ying tomorrow.

Verma’s task

Verma, who defended his title at the Syed Modi International to qualify for this $1,500,000 event, will have to beat Thailand’s Kantaphon Wangcharoen and Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto in the other Group B matches to salvage hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage. — PTI