Indian badminton star Saina Nehwal was forced to dig deep to overcome unseeded Thailand teenager Pornpawee Chochuwong in straight games to clinch the women’s singles title of the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold.

The 26-year-old top seed utilised her bank of experience and her vintage never-say-die attitude to pull off a 22-20, 22-20 win in 46 minutes to bag her first title after making a comeback after a knee surgery she underwent in August.

Initially slow, Saina was taken to task by Pornpawee, who made the best use of her delectable drop shots to run to an 11-5 lead till the two-minute halfway break.

After the breather, a refreshed Saina managed to pull things back. Pornpawee took the first point to stretch the lead to 12-5 but the London Olympic bronze medallist racked up three consecutive points before the Thai reached to 13 points. Saina, with the help of four back-to-back points, reduced the margin to one.

However, few unforced errors allowed the young Thai player to sit at a 19-16 advantage. Then, Saina, fought hard the way we have seen her do it so many times, and equalised at 19-point mark before nailing the first game 22-20.

The second game was also a see-saw affair. and this time, Saina didn’t allow Pornpawee to disctate the pace of the game. One thing that stood out in Saina’s game was the aggression. Going for the attacking shots, she held a three-point lead at 11-8.

Pornpawee equalised at the 11-point mark and thereafter the two were back in playing a neck-and-neck contest. Saina then pushed ahead towards a strong finish and ran away to a 10-16 advantage but only to see Pornpawee, showing her youthful energy, pull herself level at 20-all.

However, Saina managed to pull out a 22-20 win to seal the championship.

After the win, the 2015 World Championship runner-up thanked her coaches U. Vimal Kumar and Upendra Rana and physios Heath Mathews and Arvind Nigam.

In two separate tweets, she wrote: “Title belongs to my physios @physioheath and @ArvindDNigam4 who got me here in four months from knee surgery to the Malaysia masters title.

“Big big thanks to my coaches Vimal Kumar sir and @umendrarana sir for supporting me throughout this difficult journey.”

Meanwhile, in the men’s singles final, top seed Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong won as South Korean retired when the match was at 14-21, 21-15, 10-9 in favour of the former.

In the men’s doubles final, Malaysians Kian Meng Tan and Pei Jing Lai beat compatriots Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai 21-17, 21-9 in 35 minutes.

The women’s doubles title went to Thai top-seeded pair of Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai, who moved past Poon Lok Yan and Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong 21-17, 21-9 in 33 minutes.

Indonesian mixed doubles pair of Berry Angriawan and Hardianto Hardianto decimated the dreams of home challengers Sze Fei Goh and Nur Izzuddin with a 21-19, 21-12 victory in 44 minutes.

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Indian star shuttler Saina Nehwal entered the semi-finals of the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold with a triumph over Indonesian Fitriani Fitriani, while Ajay Jayaram lost to unseeded Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the quarter-finals.

Top seed Saina took 40 minutes to move past eighth seed Fitriani 21-15, 21-14. However, another Indian contender, sixth seed Jayaram suffered a 13-21, 8-21 setback to unfancied Ginting to make it a mix day for India.

Saina struggled at the beginning of her match against Fitriani, with the latter jumping to a 4-0 lead which later became 11-6 at the two-minute halfway break.

A revitalised Saina made a strong comeback after the break and it was evident the way she displayed aggressive play. Three consecutive points helped her reduce the gap to 9-11 and after Fitriani got a point, Saina was again back to her best, earning points one after other.

She equalised at 12-point mark before at the 14-all, she punched ahead, hardly allowing any points to the Indonesian.

In the second game, Saina continued her good work and held an 11-6 advantage and even though Fitriani tried to close in on Saina till 12-13, the experienced Indian ran away with the game, winning at 21-14.

In the semi-final on Saturday, Saina will face Yui Pui Yin, who went past Malaysian Ying Ying Lee 21-18, 21-16.

Meanwhile, Jayaram had a harrowing day as he struggled throughout during his match against Ginting. The Indonesian ran away to an 11-6 lead but Jayaram fought back to reduce the gap to two at 10-12. But Ginting looked sharper and powerful on the day and won the first game 21-13.

The second game could hardly begin for the Indian as Ginting was at it from the beginning, dominating the game. At 11-4 for Ginting, the writing was on the wall for Jayaram and the formalities ended at 21-8 for the Indonesian.

Ginting will contest with Hong Kong’s NG Ka Long Angus for a place in the title round, while the other semi-final will be fought between Tommy Sugiarto and Lee Hyun.

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Hyderabad Hunters opened their Premier Badminton League (PBL) campaign with a 4-3 win over Chennai Smashers on Sunday.

Reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin of Spain overcame Rio Games runner-up P.V. Sindhu 11-8, 12-14, 11-2 in the highly-anticipated clash to give Hyderabad a 1-0 crucial lead.

Delighted with her win, Marin said: “It was a wonderful match and the way the crowd was behind, it was wonderful. Their support meant and lot and helped me to perform a lot better.”

But Tommy Sugiarto pulled Chennai level with an 11-6, 11-8 win over B. Sai Praneeth.

British Adcock couple, Chris and Gabrielle won Chennai’s ‘Trump Match’ over R. Satwiksairaj and Hoi Wah Chau 11-7, 11-9 to give the visitors the 3-1 advantage.

Trailing 1-3, the hosts needed to pull off their socks and they managed to make a sensational comeback as Rajiv Ouseph beat Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk 6-11, 11-8, 11-6 to make it 2-3.

Hyderabad’s tactic of making the men’s doubles match as their ‘Trump Match’ paid off as Malaysian experienced customers Tan Boon Heong and Tan Wee Kiong moved past Mads Pieter Kolding and B. Sumeeth Reddy 11-7, 11-8 to ensure a 4-3 victory for Hyderabad.

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Sindhu avenges her Rio defeat; beats Marin to reach Dubai semis

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PV Sindhu  thrashed Carolina Marin of Spain in straight games 21-17, 21-13 to avenge her Rio Olympics final defeat and secure a final four berth at the Dubai Superseries finals.

In the semifinal, Sindhu will take on Group A topper South Korea’s Ji Hyun Sung, former champion Tzu Ying Tai of Chinese Taipei plays Group B topper Sun Yu in the other semis.

Earlier today, Chinese girl Sun Yu have made the group permutation and combinations lot easier by  defeating Akane Yamaguchi. It kept Sindhu’s hopes alive. Had Yamaguchi won the match, whatever the scoreline, it would have meant curtains for Sindhu.

Brilliant Sindhu wins China Open, bags maiden Superseries title

PV Sindhu came back from a game down to beat World No.8 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan at the Dubai Superseries finals. The Rio Olympic silver medalist Sindhu lost the first game tamely 12-21. But fought back gallantly to next two game 21-8, 21-15 to seal victory. 

There was a big upset in the other match of Group B, when Olympic champion and world No.2 Carolina Marin lost to world No.6 Sun Yu of China in straight games. The top two performers from the group will qualify for the semi-finals, scheduled for Saturday.

The other Group in the fray consists of new World No.1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei, South Korea’s Sung Ji-hyun, Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand and China’s He Bingjiao.

The 21-year-old Indian is looking to cap a stunning year after rising to the occasion at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games where she finished runner-up to two-time reigning world champion Carolina Marin of Spain.

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Later, on the professional circuit, she took home the China Open title and lost in the final of the French Open, enabling her entry into the year-closing tournament where only top eight professionals of the year compete.

All these achievements make an indelible year for the young Hyderabadi, who rose from the shadows of her illustrious citymate Saina Nehwal. The 2012 Olympic bronze medallist, Saina, will miss the Superseries Finals for the first time since 2010, thanks to injuries.

“It’s good to be here in Dubai. It’s my first time at the Dubai World Superseries Finals. My draw is tough. I have to play well from the start,” Sindhu told Badminton World Federation (BWF)’s website after receiving the Most Improved Player award.

“I didn’t expect to get this award, so I’m excited and happy,” said the world No.10.

Sindhu has kept this tournament specially in mind and preferred not to defend her Macau Open Grand Prix Gold title, which she had held since the last three years.

IANS

Rio Olympics silver medallist P.V. Sindhu’s maiden China Open title and her subsequent runners-up finish at the Hong Kong Open, helped her gain two spots to the No.7 spot in the latest Badminton World Federation (BWF) women’s singles rankings.

Sindhu, who skipped the ongoing Macau Open, has now assured herself a spot in the year-ending BWF Superseries Final in Dubai from December 14 to 18. Only the top-8 shuttlers are allowed to take part in the Superseries Final.

There was also good news for London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal, who clawed back to the top-10 of women’s singles. The Hyderabadi rose one spot to the No.10 position in the rankings.

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The women’s singles rankings saw considerable changes in the top three, with Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying clinching the top spot after her Hong Kong Open title.

Rio gold medallist Carolina Marin of Spain lost a spot to the No.2 position while Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon also fell one rung to No.3.

In men’s singles, Indian shuttler Sameer Verma’s runner-up show at the Hong Kong Open was rewarded with a leap of 13 spots to No.30 while Kidambi Srikanth fell one spot to No.13 in the list led by Malaysian veteran Lee Chong Wei.

Among others, Hong Kong Open winner Ng Ka Long Angus vaulted five places to enter the top-10 and is now at No.9 spot.

IANS

Star Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal defeated Dinar Dyah Ayustine of Indonesia to enter the third round of the $120,000 Macau Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament. In the men’s competition, B Sai Praneeth staged a major upset, beating fifth seed Wong Wing Ki Vincent of Hong Kong in straight games 21-15, 21-17.

In a match which lasted around one hour, Saina edged past her Indonesian opponent 17-21, 21-18, 21-12 in the women’s singles event.

After going down in the first game, the top seed Hyderabadi regained her calm and clinched the next two games to advance in the tournament.

In men’s singles, Parupalli Kashyap, making a comeback after a long layoff, bowed out of the tournament losing his second round match to Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu Hsien 13-21, 20-22.

In a match which lasted 45 minutes, Kashyap gave away the first game easily but in the second game he displayed some quality strokes — he, however, failed to overpower his opponent.

Brilliant Sindhu wins China Open, bags maiden Superseries title

In men’s doubles category, it was end of road for Indian pair Manu Attri and B. Sumeeth Reddy who were beaten by Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Hendra Wijaya of Singapore 22-20, 21-19.

The Indian duo started the proceedings on a good note but after a hard fought battle they lost the first game.

The second game saw both sides battling for each point but the Singapore pair proved superior and clinched the issue.

Among other Indians in the fray, B. Sai Praneeth was to play his second round match against fifth-seed Wong Wing Ki Vincent of Hong Kong.

IANS

PV Sindhu is not one to sit on her laurels. The Rio Olympics silver-medallist has once again punched above her ranking to beat the sixth ranked Sung Ji Hyun of South Korea 11-21, 23-21, 21-19 and booked her place in the China Open Super Series final.

The Hyderabad shuttler saved three match points in the second game and fought off Sung in the decider to make her only second entry in any Super Series final in one hour and 23 minutes. 

In a heart-stopping decider, Sindhu finally won with a cross court smash after the hawk eye negated Sung’s challenge. In the first game the Korean shuttler dominated Sindhu and pocketed easily. But Sindhu smashed her way back into the match to win the second game after being three match-points down.

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P V Sindhu: World No.1 is ultimate goal

Sindhu will now take on China’s own Sun Yu in Sunday’s final, whom she trails 2-3 in head-to-head. 

Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal made her comeback after a long injury lay off but unfortunately crashed out in the first round itself. There’s seems to be no stopping Sindhu though, who became the first Indian women to clinch a silver medal at the Olympics.

London Olympics bronze medallist shuttler Saina Nehwal, who is recuperating from a knee surgery feels her career may face an abrupt end.

The 26-year-old, who is now eyeing the China Open Super Series, from November 15, said she is working harder to improve her fitness and is not thinking about winning or losing anymore.

“It is okay, many people will think my career will end and I won’t come back. I also think somewhere deep in my heart that maybe it is the end of my career, so let’s see how it is. Maybe, you never know,” Saina was quoted as saying by the espn.in.

Plagued by a right knee injury, the Hyderabadi was knocked out of the first round from this year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Forced to go under the knife, she began her rehabilitation process with physiotherapist Heath Matthews and resumed her regular training recently under her coach U. Vimal Kumar.

“I will be more than happy if people think I am finished, it is nice in a way, people think a lot about me, maybe now they won’t. So for me it is just about how to take care of my body and be in good shape because these injuries are quite painful,” the shuttler said.

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Rio 2016 | P V Sindhu goes one up on Saina Nehwal

She further hinted at her imminent retirement plans by saying that she has not set any long term goals for the future.

“I am going to think about the next one year, it is year by year now, I am not going to set a target for the next 5-6 years now,” she said.

Considered as the flag-bearer of Indian women’s singles badminton, Saina has had many ‘firsts’ added to her illustrious career.

Besides being the first Indian shuttler to win an Olympic medal, the former World No.1 added another feather to her cap by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the finals of the prestigious All England Open Badminton Championships.

IANS

Rio Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu defeated Yip Pui Yin of Hong Kong to advance in the French Open Super Series. Sindhu outplayed Yin 21-9 29-27 in a clash which lasted around 45 minutes.

Read Rio 2016 | P V Sindhu goes one up on Saina Nehwal

In a relatively lop-sided first game, Sindhu thrashed her opponent with some swift court movements and powerful smashes. The Indian shuttler had to struggle to win the second game.

In men’s singles, H.S. Prannoy defeated Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana 21-16 21-18 to enter the second round of the tournament.

Ajay Jayaram and Sai Parneeth will take on their respective opponents later in the day.

IANS