PV Sindhu is through to the final of the China Open Superseries after coming from a game down to beat Sung Ji Hyun of South Korea 11-21, 23-21, 21-19.
She will face Sun Yu of China in the final on Sunday. This is the third year in a row that an Indian woman will be in the final of the big event which has historically seen Chinese domination. In 2014, Saina Nehwal won the tournament but in 2015 she ended up as runner up to Li Xuerui. Now, PV Sindhu will compete against another Chinese for the title.
Sindhu has been in sublime form after winning the silver medal at the Rio Olympics – to become the best performance by an Indian shuttler at the Summer Games.
To add to Sindhu’s prowess, she saved three match points in the second game to hold her nerves and keep the contest going. From 17-20 down, she saved the three match points and then made it 21-20 to win crucial four points in a row.
Her opponent on Sunday – Sun Yu – is an up and coming player in Chinese badminton and has already made a mark by rising to number nine in the rankings and is seeded eighth at the China Open.
India’s representation at the China Open started with Nehwal losing in the first round while in the men’s department, Ajay Jayaram made the furthest foray where he lost to Chen Long in the quarterfinals.
