P V Sindhu (Two-time bronze-medallist) stunned Olympic champion and former World No. 1 Chinese Li Xuerui in a hard battle, while Saina Nehwal sailed into the women’s singles quarterfinals after an easy win in the World Badminton Championship Istora Stadium in Jakarta on Thursday (August 13).
Sindhu has moved a step closer with this victory, to have scored a hat-trick of medals in the World championships.
Sindhu (11th rank), who clinched the bronze medal in 2013 and 2014 editions of this tournament, posted an unexpected, upset win over Xuerui 21-17 14-21 21-17 in a game that lasted 50 minutes.
London Olympics bronze-medallist Saina, on the other hand, overcame the 14th ranked Sayaka Takahashi of Japan 21-18 21-14 in 47 minutes.
If Saina and Sindhu are able to win their respective quarterfinal matches for now, they would each be assured of a bronze medal at least.
Sindhu will next be taking on eighth ranked Sung Ji-hyun of South Korea and Saina would play against the winner of the match between Wang Yihan and Bae Yeon Ju.
The World No. 13 Sindhu, today gave a glimpse of her previous self, who had spent most of the time this season nursing an injury and struggling for form.
Sindhu made her intentions clear from the very beginning as she opened with a 5-1 lead in the first game and surged ahead, only letting her higher ranked opponent catch her in the second set.
The closest the Chinese came was at 16-17 before Sindhu won three points on the trot to make it 20-16 and eventually close the opening game 21-17.
However, Xuerui gave a come back strong enough in the second game, using all her experience as she dominated from the first point to steal the game 21-14 and take it to the decider.
In the third game, after breaking away from tied 3-3, Sindhu scored a 11-6 lead at the break. But the Chinese kept breathing down her neck, clawing back at 13-13.
At 14—14, Sindhu managed to win four successive points to once again open up a 18—14 lead. Thereafter, she just tightened the noose, not letting the advantage slip and sealed the issue rather comfortably towards the end.
Meanwhile, World No. 2 Saina, struggled in the opening game, but managed to come from behind and live up to her reputation to advance to the next stage.
While, Saina conceded an 0-7 lead in the first game, she slowly clawed back into the game, winning a point or two to keep up with her rival from Japan.
She finally could catch Takahashi at 16-16 and the game went on neck-and-neck till 18-18 before she scored three points on the trot to win it 21-18.
In the second game, Saina took an early lead and was sailing along smoothly before she was caught by Takahashi at 12—12. After a battle, the Indian ace once again broke away with a three—point lead and then logged another five consecutive points to score a win comfortably.
(with agency inputs)
By Sree Teja
