Highlights:
• PV Sindhu won the quarter finals
• Defeated world no. 1 player Akane Yamaguchi
PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, defeated world number one Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in three games to advance to the semifinals of the Thailand Open Super 500 competition on May 20. In 51 minutes, the sixth-seeded Indian defeated the second-seeded Japanese 21-15 20-22 21-13 to set up a match with Olympic winner Chen Yu Fei of China.
Tried to engage Yamaguchi
Pv Sindhu began to engage the diminutive Yamaguchi, who is known for her fighting spirit. The reigining world champion used her speed, deception and fluid wrists to pocket the second game 22-20 and push the match into the decider at the impact Area in Bangkok- venue of India’s Thomas Cup triumph on May 15.
Close fight in the last game
The third game showed a close fight between the two at the start but the second seeded yamaguchi looked like she was struggling with a back problem. She stopped lunging forward and took awkward stances while playing back court shots. Sindhu took advantage to race away to 13-7 from 7 all before closing the game and match 21-13. The former world champion will need to up her game.
