World Badminton Championships, Highlights: Sindhu Marches Into Final With Dominating Display
BWF World Championships 2017: PV Sindhu dismantles Chen Yufei 21-13, 21-10 to set up a final clash against Japan's Nozomi Okuhara.
PV Sindhu put in a dominating performance to completely outclass her Chinese opponent and march into the women's singles final at the World Badminton Championships being held in Glasgow. Sindhu destroyed Chen Yufei of China 21-13, 21-10 on Saturday night in a match lasting just 48 minutes, thereby assuring herself of at least a silver medal. Sindhu had won the bronze at the World Championships in 2013 and 2014. Meanwhile, in the day's first semi-final, Saina Nehwal bowed out of the tournament after losing 21-17, 12-21, 10-21 to her Japanese opponent Nozomi Okuhara. Despite the loss, Saina took home a bronze medal. The London Olympic bronze medallist dominated her opponent in the first game, wrapping it in just 22 minutes. However, Okuhara had other plans as she did not allow Saina to settle in the second game. The Indian star fought hard to keep her herself alive in the all-important third game but Okuhara proved to be a tough nut to crack and easily won the final game to deny Saina a place in the final.Â
Highlights of the BWF World Championships Women's Singles semi-final at Glasgow.
02:50 IST: Thanks for joining our coverage today. Do join us for the final tomorrow.
02:45 IST: It's over!! Sindhu is through to the women's singles final and thereby has assured herself of a maiden World Championship silver. Historic moment for the Indian!
02:44 IST: Sindhu wins the match 21-13, 21-10!
02:42 IST:Â Sindhu just 3 points away from qualifying for the final
02:40 IST:Â Brilliant net play from Yufei. She hasn't given up just yet. Sindhu, though, will surely not relinquish this lead.
02:37 IST:Â Nothing going right for Yufei. She trails 5-16.
02:34 IST: Another brilliant cross-court smash from Sindhu to take a 14-3 lead.
02:33:Â What domination from PV Sindhu! Chen Yufei has been left high and dry. She leads 13-2.
02:28 IST:Â Finally the Chinese shuttler gets on the board in the 2nd game. But Sindhu leads 8-1.
02:26 IST:Â Sindhu on fire! She has opened up a 7-0 lead in the 2nd game.
02:23 IST:Â Sindhu is playing superbly today. She leads 3-0 in the 2nd game.
02:20 IST:Â Sindhu wins the 1st game of the semi-final against Chen Yufei 21-13.Â
02:18 IST: Great judgement from Sindhu, just two points away from winning the first game.
02:15 IST: Sindhu is running away with the 1st game, she leads 18-11.
02:13 IST:Â Back to back points for the Chinese. But Sindhu still leads 15-11.
02:11 IST:Â Sindhu's powerful smashes are really hurting Chen Yufei, she now leads 13-8
02:09Â IST:Â At the mid-game break, PV Sindhu leads Chen Yufei 11-8
02:03 IST: Powerful cross-court shot gives Sindhu a much-needed point.
02:02 IST: Poor judgement call from Sindhu gives Yufei a two-point lead.
02:00 IST: Chinese shuttler shows great defensive skills to deny Sindhu a point. Yufei leads 4-3
01:59 IST: Brilliant play from Sindhu, she draws level at 3-3.
01:57 IST:Â PV Sindhu wins the 1st point of the semi-final against Chen Yufei.
01:56 IST: Here we go!! Chen Yufei will serve first
01:53 IST:Â The two players are on the court.
01:50 IST: Time for Sindhu to take centrestage.
01:48 IST: Meanwhile, China's Liu Cheng and Zhang Nan have defeated compatriots Chai Biao and Hong Wei to reach the men's doubles final.
01:30 IST: Not too long left for the much-awaited women's singles semi-final between Sindhu and Chen Yufei.
Only one match to go before PV Sindhu takes the center stage. Stay with us! #2017BWC
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
01:00 IST: China's Zheng Siwei and Chen Qingchen enter the mixed doubles final after beating English duo Chris and Gabrielle Adcock 21-15, 23-21.
00:30 IST: In the mixed doubles semi-final, China's Zheng Siwei and Chen Qingchen take the first game 21-15 against England's Chris and Gabrielle Adcock.
00:03 IST: Japan's Fukushima and Hirota beat Denmark's Juhl and Pedersen 21-17, 19-21, 21-14 to enter women's doubles final.
23:42 IST:Â It's game one! One game each for Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota of Japan and Kamilla Rytter Juhl-Christina Pedersen of Denmark.
Another nail-biting game here tonight, w/ Danes Kamilla Rytter Juhl & Christinna Pedersen V Japan's Yuki Fukushima & Saayake Hirota #2017BWC pic.twitter.com/l7wely8O9X
— 2017BWC (@2017BWC) August 26, 2017
22:37 IST: Men's singles final -- Lin Dan vs Viktor Axelsen.
The Men's Singles Final will be Viktor Axelsen VS Lin Dan
— 2017BWC (@2017BWC) August 26, 2017
Who's going to be MS World Champion? #2017BWC pic.twitter.com/w6NgXZ9N6l
22:36 IST: China's Lin Dan beats world number 1 Son Wan Ho 21-17, 21-14 to enter men's singles final.
The magnificent Lin Dan enters the final of #2017BWC and will look to win the Worlds for record 6th time! Congratulations to the legend. pic.twitter.com/yx2QrDeCrD
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
22:05 IST: Lin Dan of China wins the first game 21-17 in 28 minutes.
21:32 IST: The second session of the day begins! It is Son Wan Ho against Lin Dan.
Not long now till the second session of the day begins - and we kick it off with LIN DAN (China) v World No.1 SON WAN HO (Korea) #2017BWC pic.twitter.com/dUhBWC4cT1
— 2017BWC (@2017BWC) August 26, 2017
21:30 IST: Welcome back to the live blog of the World Badminton Championships.
19:35 IST: The next set of matches will start at 21:30 IST. Stay tuned!
19:12 IST: Saina Nehwal put up a great fight in the semi-final but it wasn't enough to beat her Japanese opponent Nozomi Okuhara. She lost 21-12, 17-21, 10-21.
2015 -
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
2017 -
Saina Nehwal shines at the Worlds again. Her #2017BWC campaign comes to an end but not before she earns a medal for pic.twitter.com/YuTFToFeyR
19:09 IST: Okuhara is running away with the game, leads Saina 18-7.
19:06 IST: Okuhara is widening the points gap, leads Saina 14-7.
19:02 IST: At mid-break, Okuhara leads Nehwal 11-4. The latter is losing momentum.
Saina breaks Okuhara's rhythm before the mid-game interval but still trailing 4-11.
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
A 7 point lead for the Japanese. #2017BWC
19:00 IST: Huge seven point lead by Okuhara over Nehwal, she leads 9-3.
18:56 IST: Okuhara is showing her determination, she first draws level and then leads Saina 7-3.
Okuhara takes 6 points on a trot to make it 7-3 against Saina. Come on, champ! #2017BWC
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
18:54 IST: Three consecutive points for Saina, leads 3-1.
Only 4 points in the final game but all were closely fought.
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
Saina leads 3-1 against Okuhara. #2017BWC
18:52 IST: Beautiful drop shot from Saina, draws level 1-1.
18:49 IST: It all boils down to the third and last game. Will Saina be able to repeat her performance from last night and book a place in the final?
18:48 IST: Nozomi Okuhara showing grit, claims the second game 21-17 vs Saina Nehwal.
The Japanese shows tremendous grit to take the second game 21-17 against Saina Nehwal. Bring on the third! #2017BWC
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
18:45 IST: Okuhara continues to maintain a one point lead over Nehwal, 18-17.
18:42 IST: Saina Nehwal fights her way back in the second game, draws level 15-15.
Yes! Saina makes it even again!
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
15-15 against Okuhara. #2017BWC
18:41 IST: An unforced error from Okuhara gets Saina a point, she trails, 14-15.
18:34 IST:Â At mid-break of the second game, Saina Nehwal trails Okuhara 10-11.
18:29 IST: Poor judgement from Okuhara gets Saina a point, trails 4-6.
18:26 IST: Okuhara seems to have upped her game vs Saina Nehwal, she leads 4-0 in second
Okuhara is showing urgency in the second game. Leads 4-1 against Saina at the start of it. #2017BWC
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
18:24 IST: Okuhara wins the first point of the second game.
18:21 IST: Saina Nehwal wins the first game 21-12 of the match in just 22 minutes.  Pure aggression from the Indian.
A confident @NSaina gets the better of Okuhara in the first game. Wraps it up in 22 minutes. Wins it 21-12. Solid start! #2017BWC
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
18:20 IST: Saina Nehwal is closing on the first game, leads Okuhara 19-12.
Inching close to winning the first game. Extends the lead to 8 points!
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
Saina 18-10 Okuhara. #2017BWC
18:16 IST: Okuhara is fighting back, gets two consecutive points, trails 10-16.
5 points away from winning the opening game.
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
Saina 16-7 Okuhara. Closing in! #2017BWC
18:14 IST: Saina is on fire, she leads the Japanese 15-7.
A 7 point lead for Saina now. Ahead 13-6 and is all pumped up!
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
Saina 13-6 Okuhara. #2017BWC
18:09 IST: At mid-break of the first game, Saina leads Okuhara 11-6.
Domination from Saina Nehwal so far.
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
Goes into the break leading 11-6 against Okuhara.
What a way to start! #2017BWC
18:04 IST:Â Five consecutive points for Saina Nehwal, she leads 7-2.
Saina is showing amazing skills at the net. Leads 7-2 against her. Aggressive start from her! #2017BWC
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
18:00 IST: Wonderful net play, Saina Nehwal wins the first point of the match.
17:54 IST: Both players are in the court, match to begin shortly.
17:52 IST: Few minutes to go before Saina takes on Okuhara, stay tuned!
Saina Nehwal takes on Japan's Nozomi Okuhara shortly. Stay tuned! #2017BWC
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
17:50 IST: Wonderful play by China's Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan as they beat Japan's Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi 21-17, 21-15.
17:30 IST: Great comeback from Chen and Jia of China to win the first game 21-17.
17:10 IST:Â At mid-break, Japan's Matsutomo and Takahashi lead China's Chen and Jia 11-9.
It's a close game so far between Japan's Matsutomo & Takahashi and China's Chen & Jia. First game 11-9 at the moment #2017BWC pic.twitter.com/CHEwL5Y5mK
— 2017BWC (@2017BWC) August 26, 2017
17:07 IST:Â After a tough fight against Scottish Kirsty Gilmour in the quarters, Saina will look to extend the 6-1 head-to-head win against Japan's Nozomi Okuhara and book her place in the World Championships final. Match begins in a while.
She has come this far but we are hungry for more!
— PBL India (@PBLIndiaLive) August 26, 2017
Saina Nehwal will look to seal a place in #2017BWC final. Match starts in a while. pic.twitter.com/DrCID4cr3j
17:03 IST: Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu will be eyeing an all-India final at the World Championships later in the evening. Stay tuned!
Get ready for Saturday evening's blockbuster
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 26, 2017
PV Sindhu & Saina Nehwal will compete against tough opponents for a place in #2017BWC final pic.twitter.com/oG4DTCMqFv
16:57 IST:Â Currently in women's doubles, Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi of Japan is up against China's Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan.
16:52 IST: A quick recap -- Viktor Axelsen stormed into the final of the men's singles event by beating China's Chen Long 21-9, 21-10 in just 39 minutes.
"I'm so proud but I'm not done yet" @ViktorAxelsen speaks to #2017BWC on his victory over Chen Long in the Semi-Finals. @BadDK @EuropeBEC pic.twitter.com/i9Lgdezza3
— 2017BWC (@2017BWC) August 26, 2017
Indonesia's Tontowi Amad and Liliyana Natsir beat Hong Kong's Lee Chun Hei Reginald Chau Hoi Wah 21-16, 21-13 in Mixed Doubles event.
Mohammad Ahsan and Rian Agung Saputaro of Indonesia beat Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda of Japan 21-12, 21-15 in men's doubles event.
Time for an Indonesian party in Glasgow!
— 2017BWC (@2017BWC) August 26, 2017
A 21-12 21-15 straight games win takes Ahsan/Saputro to the #2017BWC men's doubles final pic.twitter.com/tJdyS1Q7RC
16:50 IST: Hello and welcome to the live blog of the World Championships, Day 6.
PV Sindhu on Friday completed a hat-trick of medals at the World Badminton Championships as she stormed into the semifinal at Glasgow. Sindhu, a silver medallist at the Rio Olympics, assured herself of at least a bronze with a clinical display against world number six Chinese Sun Yu. The 22-year-old, who has won a bronze at the 2013 and 2014 editions, disposed off Sun Yu 21-14 21-9 in 39 minutes at the Emirates Arena. The world No. 4 Indian takes on Chinese - world No. 10 Chen Yufei later in the day.