Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Sindhu nails Okuharaseq­uelinkorea­open

World No 4 holds nerve to beat Japanese to claim the Korea Open Superserie­s, makes amends for World Championsh­ip final loss

- Press Trust of India

SEOUL: India’s Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu exacted revenge for her World Championsh­ip heartbreak, defeating Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in a thrilling final to clinch the Korea Open Super Series title here on Sunday.

The 22-year-old overcame eighth seeded Okuhara 22-20 11-21 20-18 in yet another energysapp­ing contest that 83 minutes to win the $ 600,000 tournament.

Sindhu had lost to Okuhara in the world championsh­ips final in Glasgow last month in an epic battle described by experts as the best in years. On Sunday, she turned the tables on the Japanese to become the first Indian to win the Korea Super Series.

Expectatio­ns of another edgeof-the-seat thriller were raised after Sindhu and Okuhara set up a summit clash for the second time in a little over three weeks. And after the final, Sindhu was exhausted as well as elated.

It did not go the distance the marathon world championsh­ips final did -- the Glasgow final had lasted an hour and 50 minutes . But the summit clash in Seoul 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 claim her third Superserie­s title of her career.

World No 4 Sindhu, who had won the 2016 China Super Series Premier and India Super Series as well as Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold this season. She dashed Okuhara’s bid to win her third straight title, having won the Australian Open and the world championsh­ips.

FOUR ALL

The win also helped Sindhu to level her head-to-head record against Okuhara, making it 4-4.

Sindhu led 2-0 in the first game but Okuhara was quick to erase the deficit. The Indian again took a 5-3 advantage with Okuhara committing unforced errors. The first signs of a repeat of the epic world championsh­ip final was evident 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 to 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.

INTENSE BATTLE

Sindhu once again produced another intense rally and hit a precise overhead 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 FIGHTBACK

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.

EXHAUSTED SINDHU 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 Indian sealed the match to begin celebratio­ns.

 ?? AP ?? PV Sindhu beat Nozomi Okuhara in a match that lasted one hour and 23 minutes.
AP PV Sindhu beat Nozomi Okuhara in a match that lasted one hour and 23 minutes.

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