Latest News

  • Home
  • Sports
  • PV Sindhu conquers Nozomi Okuhara to clinch Korea Open badminton title
PV Sindhu conquers Nozomi Okuhara to clinch Korea Open badminton title
Tuesday, September 19, 2017 IST
PV Sindhu conquers Nozomi Okuhara to clinch Korea Open badminton title

India’s Olympic silver medallist shuttler PV Sindhu on Sunday exacted sweet revenge of her World Championships heart-break as she defeated Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in a thrilling summit clash to clinch the women’s singles title at the Korea Open Superseries in Seoul. (PV Sindhu vs Nozomi Okuhara highlights)

The 22-year-old Indian overcame eighth seeded Okuhara 22 -20 11-21 20-18 in yet another energy-sapping contest that lasted an hour and 23 minutes to win the $600,000 tournament.

PV Sindhu had lost to Nozomi Okuhara in the World Badminton Championships final in Glasgow last month in an epic battle which was described by experts as the best in many years. Today, she turned the tables on the Japanese to become the first Indian to win this Korea Open Superseries.

Expectations of yet another edge-of-the-seat thriller were raised after Sindhu and Okuhara set up a summit clash for the second time in little over three weeks and after the end of the final today, Sindhu was left exhausted and elated at the same time.

It did not go the distance like the marathon World Championship final that had lasted an hour and 50 minutes but today’s summit clash had all the ingredients of another thrilling contest as the duo battled in long and intense rallies at the SK Handball Stadium.

Sindhu displayed dogged determination and great stubbornness to lay claim to her third super series title of her career.

World no. 4 Sindhu, who had clinched the 2016 China Open Superseries Premier and India Open Superseries and Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold this season, thus dashed Okuhara’s bid to win her third straight title after winning the Australian Open and the World Championship.

The win also helped Sindhu to level her head-to-head record against Okuhara, making it 4-4 in eight meetings between them.

Sindhu led 2-0 early in the first game but Okuhara was quick to erase the deficit. The Indian once again moved to a 5-3 advantage with Okuhara committing unforced errors. The first glimpse of the epic World Championship final was visible when they had a long rally at 6-5 which Sindhu won with a straight smash.

However, the Indian lost the advantage when Okuhara reeled off four points, showing her prowess to fight back to grab a 9-7 lead. A smash at Okuhara’s backhand helped Sindhu make it 9-9 but the Japanese ensured that she has the advantage at 11-9.

Sindhu played an attacking rally and sealed it with a smash at 9-12. In fact, she grabbed five of the next eight points after the break to turn the tables at 14-13.

Sindhu once again dished out another intense rally and produced a precise over head smash to lead 15-14. The duo kept fighting and in another thrilling rally, Sindhu had to resort to continuous smashes before Okuhara finally sent one to the net to make it 17-17.

A simple return going to net made Sindhu hung her face in frustration. Then, the Indian went wide and long to hand over two game point opportunities to Okuhara.

 

 
 

The Japanese, however, could not make use of the chances as her backhand flick near the net went wide and then she made an error in judgement at the baseline to allow Sindhu claw back at 20-20.

Sindhu walked away with the opening game that lasted 28 minutes when Okuhara sent a return serve to the net and then saw the shuttle sail over the baseline.

World No.7 Okuhara made a roaring comeback in the second game after Sindhu got buried in a heap of unforced errors. Right from the first stroke when she smashed long, Sindhu continued to struggle with her length and precision even as Okuhara grabbed the shuttle early to dominate the proceedings of the second game completely.

The Olympic bronze medallist Japanese led 11-6 at the break and continued to extend her lead with Sindhu struggling with her strokes. In fact, it looked like the Indian had given up the fight as Okuhara took the match to the decider when Sindhu’s return got buried at the net once again.

 

 
 

In the decider, Sindhu, who looked a tad dispirited in the second game, got her bearings right as she once again led 11-5 at the break when Okuhara went wide. The rallies continued to get fiercer as the duo battled hard for each point. Okuhara displayed tremendous defensive skills and tight net play to reduce the deficit to 16-18.

Sindhu was then left lying on the floor after another physically and mentally draining rally which the Indian won after Okuhara found the net. A tired looking shot went to net but Sindhu produced a good net return to have three match points at 20-17.

Sindhu could not reach the forecourt after another rally as Okuhara saved a match point but the Japanese sent the shuttle wide next as the Indian sealed the match and lifted her arms in celebration.

 
 
 
 
 

Related Topics

 
 
 
 

Trending News & Articles

 Article
Forgotten Hero's Series: Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav Indian Olympic medalist who never got a Padma Award

Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav (Marathi: श्री. खाशाबा दादासाहेब जाधव, January 15, 1926 – August 14, 1984) was an Indian athlete. He is best known as a wrestler who...

Recently posted . 7K views . 60 min read
 

 Article
Remembering VP Sathyan, India's forgotten 'Captain'

There's a scene in the movie 'Captain', a freshly-minted Malayalam biopic on former India defender VP Sathyan, which tries to capture the conflict rag...

Recently posted . 3K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
As team India shines in 2022, read about the CWG scam of 2010 where one toilet paper roll was purchased for Rs 4,000

During the examination, it was uncovered that the CWG Organizing Committee had paid a messed up sum for planning and buys. The underlying evaluation for putting tog...

Recently posted . 3K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
Virat Kohli Has A Special Message For India U-17 Football Team Ahead Of The World Cup

These are exciting times for Indian football. India is set to host a FIFA World Cup and participate in it for the first time. The under-17 World Cup begins ...

Recently posted . 3K views . 2 min read
 

 
 

More in Sports

 Article
Noise Of "It's Over Gauti" Got To Me: Gautam Gambhir Announces Retirement From All Forms Of Cricket

Gautam Gambhir represented India in 58 Tests, 147 ODIs and 37 T20Is.

Recently posted. 628 views . 0 min read
 

 Article
Ravi Shastri, New Chief Coach of Team India, pitches for Sachin Tendulkar as consultant for abroad tours

New Delhi: After weeks of tension, veteran Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri at long last figured out how to get his own particular support staff as BCCI made the vital...

Recently posted. 733 views . 11 min read
 

 Article
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis to miss first Test vs England

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis will miss the first Test against England at Lords starting on Thursday due to family reasons, the cricket board confirm...

Recently posted. 793 views . 7 min read
 

 Video
Top 20 Unexpected Goals In Football



Recently posted . 1K views
 

 Article
In the Mithali Raj-Ramesh Powar saga, Indian cricket is the real loser

One week after the team’s run to the World T20 semi-finals, the controversy has put Indian cricket on the backseat.

Recently posted. 736 views . 0 min read
 

 Article
From eating Karimeen to doing Yoga, Chris Gayle enjoys holiday in Kerala

He reportedly reached Kerala on Sunday and will leave on Wednesday to join his team, Kings XI Punjab  

Recently posted. 860 views . 0 min read
 

 
 
 

   Prashnavali

  Thought of the Day

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
Confucius

Be the first one to comment on this story

Close
Post Comment
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST


ads
Back To Top