Singapore Open 2022 : Sindhu To Battle With Saena In Semi-Finals
By Bibhu Ray
(The Quiver) : The two-time Olympian PV Sindhu overcame a strong challenge from her Chinese rival Han Yue of China in a match that lasted more than an hour on Friday to secure a spot in the semifinals of the Singapore Open Super 500 Tournament.
The first game was difficult for the World No. 7 since Han was precise with her placement and scored the first point. However, the Indian came back fiercely to take the second game and secure the victory 17-21 21-11 21-19 in the 62-minute match.
Sindhu now leads 3-0 against the Chinese on head-to-head.This was Sindhu’s first semi-final entry since Thailand Open in May and it remains to be seen if she is able to make in the last event before the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy too are vying for a last four berth in the tournament and will be in action later.
The world No. 19 had it easy in the first game after racing to 11-9 in the interval as Sindhu struggled with her defence.
The Indian bounced back in the second and took a third-point lead in the mid-game interval. She extended the lead as she clinched the second game with seven points on the trot.
In the final set, it turned to be a thriller of a context as Sindhu found herself in familiar territory trailing 8-11 and then 9-14 in the decider, produced some fine rallies. She come back strongly to level it with 14-all with five points in a row.
It became 19-all before Sindhu sealed in her favour.Sindhu will be next face with unseeded Saena Kawakami, the Japanese world No.38.
