Sindhu’s run ends in World Super Series Final

Olympic Silver medallist PV Sindhu’s brilliant run at the BWF World Super Series Final came to an end after she suffered a narrow defeat against World No 5 Korean Sung Ji-Hyun in the women’s singles semi-finals, here on Saturday. It was a contest between Sindhu’s power and Sung Ji’s precision and unfortunately the Indian failed to break the Korean’s impregnable defence and went down fighting 15-21, 21-18, 16-21 in a thrilling 76-minute contest. 

Sindhu, who had scripted a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Sung en route to her maiden China Open Super Series Premier title, could not match the Korean’s excellent court coverage and deft touch. The Indian had a 6-3 head-to-head record against Sung before the match but it meant nothing as Sung, who has been inside top 10 for last six years, tried to make Sindhu run to all four corners of the court with her accurate returns and placements. Her strategy seemed to work as she lead 10-7 after battling for every point early on in the contest. She won the first game making Sindhu fight hard for each point. 

Even in the second game, Sung, who remained unbeaten in the Group stage, once again took a small 2-0 lead early on but Sindhu held on and took the set to take the match to the final set. In the final moments of the final set, two superb smashes by the Indian was followed by another net error as Sung held five match points advantage which she converted with another winner to seal her place in the finals.