Singapore Open Final :PV Sindhu Storms Into Final By Defeating Saena

By Bibhu Ray

(The Quiver) : Indian shutter PV Sindhu stormed into the Singapore Open title clash with a commanding win over lower-ranked Japanese Saena Kawakami in the women’s’ singles semi-final, here on Saturday.

The 27-year old from Hyderabad, who claimed two Super 300 titles at Syed Modi International and Swiss Open this year, prevailed 21-15 21-7 over the world number 38 Kawakami in a 32-minute last four clash.

Sindhu came into the match with a 2-0 head-to-head record, having played her last at the 2018 China Open. Kawakami had received a walk-over from top-seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in the second round.

The only prominent Indian athlete to have progressed this far in the competition is Sindhu. Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy, among others, were eliminated from the competition in the past after playing stressful matches.After winning the first set 21-15,Sindhu just had to keep engaging her rival Kawakami in the rallies and patiently wait for her mistakes. A frustrated Kawakami just could wryly smile as Sindhu first grabbed a 11-4 lead at the mid-game interval and then zoomed past to 17-5 in a hurry to win the second set 21-7.The third seeded Indian will face the winner of the other semi-final match between Japan’s Aya Ohori and China’s Wang Zhi Yi in the finals on Sunday.

The two-time Commonwealth Games medalist, will lead India charge at the quadrennial event in Birmingham starting July 28.